Hi Toby, On Fri, 2007-01-12 at 20:16 +0000, Toby Smithe wrote: [...] > I have been quite busy on the fight for free software for schools, and > am publishing any developments on that front at > http://tibsplace.co.uk/blog/index.php/category/free-software > > I don't really trust BECTA. They didn't reply to my completely serious > e-mail, so I just assume they are been pressurised into preferring > proprietary software. They could just have issued this statement to make > us content. I will again write to them, but until I receive a reply, I > have no idea why I should think they are trustworthy.
I've been following some of your efforts, and it does seem as though you've just been sent stock responses by their PR department. This is unfortunate considering the effort you've obviously put into this, but it's something we need to confront. I think entering into a dialogue with BECTA will be necessary as a gateway to the LEAs (Local Education Authorities). A great deal of IT policy-making in schools rests with the LEAs, I believe, even if some schools choose not to follow their recommendations. FOSS-sympathetic LEAs would be able to provide resources and support on a level which could make the adoption of FOSS seem much more practical for a great deal of schools. Please take a look at this Becta press release [1], especially the three reports in the 'Notes to Editors' section. I found them very enlightening; the biggest problem the schools studied seemed to come up against was a lack of support from the LEA. Some LEAs even seemed to actively discourage open-source adoption: "The LEA provides no ICT support to the school, and some animosity has grown over the issue of the school using OSS." [2] By working with Becta, we could hopefully open a useful communication channel with the LEAs. Thanks, Phil [1] - http://www.becta.org.uk/corporate/press_out.cfm?id=4681 [2] - Open Source Software in Schools: A case study report [1] (Page 6, Case Study 3, 'ICT in the school') -- Phil Bull http://www.launchpad.net/people/philbull -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
