[Fsf-friends] Linux Technology Extension(LiTE) centre

[Raj Shekhar]

OST @ C-DIT wrote:
> Hai Friends,
>    One of the strong criticisms against the free softwares is the lack
> of technological support for those choosing to adopt it. The Centre for
> Development of Imaging Technology, an autonomous centre under Govt of
> Kerala is coming up with a creative response to the criticism by
> establishing 100 Linux Technology Extension (LiTE) centres all over
> Kerala. 

[snip]
> These centres will
> initially provide installation, trouble shooting, and user training for
> Linux and Open Office. In the next phase they will also be equipped to
> give support for development of free software solutions.

[snip]

Things seem a bit odd here.  The schools (both public and private) teach 
Microsoft technologies and the government is planning to start Linux 
support centers.  Where will these centers find manpower to provide 
support ?  Or will the old Indian "connection" (or jugaad .. if you 
understand hindi) come into play for hiring?

Personally, I had a hard time finding good (or even average) PHP 
programmers for my company.  Most freshers had been taught ASP/JSP, 
since that was "prescribed" in their college.  Have you thought of this 
part of the problem ?  Personally, I think the schools should start 
teaching perl/python instead of Basic.  Colleges should start teaching 
QT/wxPython for GUI design.  However they cannot. Why ? Because they do 
not have teachers.  A bit of a chicken and egg problem.  And opening 
LiTE is certainly not going to help.

Yes, I am a cynical about all things Indian government does.

-- 
,-.___,-.  Raj Shekhar
\_/_ _\_/  System Administrator, programmer and  slacker
   )O_O(    home : http://rajshekhar.net
  { (_) }   blog : http://rajshekhar.net/blog/
   `-^-'    work : http://netphotograph.com