No Windows in West Bengal schools? Indranil Chakraborty, Kolkata, November 13, 2002
The West Bengal government is considering using open-source operating systems (OS) like Linux as an alternative to Microsoft Corp's Windows OS in its school computer literacy programme, and has approached hardware maker International Business Machines (IBM) to provide the system support. The computer literacy programme will cover 11,000 schools all over the state, and the government has already bought 3000 personal computers (PCs) pre-loaded with Windows OS. The government's proposal spells uncertainty for Microsoft, whose chairman, Bill Gates, is now on a visit to India. Microsoft is pushing for an e-governance plan based on Windows OS and application software in India According to a top ranking official of the state IT department, the government is considering the use of Linux as an OS and non-Microsoft based applications like Star Office from Sun Microsystems to spread computer literacy in state government schools. "To spread computer education in the most cost-effective way, one of the issues is software cost. And here we believe that open-source can be an alternative," he said. The government will take the final decision on the basis of a report of the seven-member expert committee headed by Jadavpur University pro vice-chancellor Ashoke Thakur. The committee's brief is to design the school computer syllabus and the roadmap for smooth implementation of the computer literacy programme. The government's line of thinking is also reflected in the views of the members of the committee. "There is a proposal from members of the committee to consider Linux-based free software model as an alternative. We have not reached any conclusion. Our aim is to design a syllabus and a viable technology which will be easy to implement, cost-effective and efficient in spreading computer literacy among school students," said Thakur. The seriousness of the proposal can be gauged from the fact that the government has already send a proposal to IBM asking Big Blue whether it can support the Linux systems in the schools. IBM's spokesperson declined to comment on the government's proposal. "We are closely working with the state government and at the present moment we don't want to talk more," is the official response of IBM. However, it may not be an all-Linux deal. Government officials are of the view that since Windows is the most popular OS, the students should be given an opportunity to learn Windows-based applications. Said the IT department official, "Our model is to have one Windows based PC for every 10 Linux-based PCs in a school. One of the ways to use the government's scare resources in the most efficient manner is to have a mix of both free software and a proprietary model." In terms of syllabus also, Thakur is clearly of the view that no vendor specific application should be mentioned. "Our whole approach is to have a syllabus which does not have any vendor specification," said Thakur. The West Bengal government will buy 5000 PCs in the second phase of its computer literacy programme. "May be in the tender for the next phase we will seek Linux as the OS along with Windows OS from the PC vendors," said the IT department officials. ===== ______ Pillai __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your site http://webhosting.yahoo.com
