[Fsf-friends] Linux in Kerala Schools and MGP

V. Sasi Kumar sasi.fsf@[EMAIL-PROTECTED]
Sat Sep 2 16:03:53 IST 2006


On Sat, 2006-09-02 at 15:40 +0530, Baishampayan Ghose wrote:

> A good friend of mine sent me the following piece of information. I am
> quoting him verbatim here ---
> 
> - ---
> About the storm in the tea cup about Kerala schools going 100%
> GNU/Linux, I am cynical about the story.
> 
> 1. The decision was made by the previous government, several months
>    back and there is absolutely no reason to make such a hue and cry
>    about this right now; unless you want to attract some attention of
>    the wrong kind.

True. I think I had said this in an earlier mail. This was prompted by
the weight the leftist teachers union put behind free software.

> 2. The decision, AFAIK, applies to High Schools only. +2 schools have
>    to teach Tally, (in the commerce stream) so will stick to the
>    proprietary OS and/or dual boot.

Yes. Free Software was first introduced in the eighth standard last
year. This year, it has been extended to the ninth standard, and the
next year it will be extended to the tenth. Hopefully, Free Software
will be introduced in the eleventh and twelfth standards in subsequent
years.

> 3. Within the government, a massive software deployment is going on,
>    under the name ``Modernisation of Government Programme'', or
>    MGP. This is entirely M$ based, and govt. servants are provided a 7
>    working day training on using such exotic programmes like MS Word,
>    MS Excel, etc. The training includes how to type Malayalam.

Largely true. But the MGP also has some Free Software running. Arun
should know more about it.

> How will the community counter this MGP thing?

We should try to influence the government. Since the programme is
already in an advanced stage, it may not be easy. But we have some hope
since the present CM supports FS.

Best
-- 
V. Sasi Kumar <sasi.fsf at gmail.com>
Free Software Foundation of India




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