Becta pays lip-service to Open Source

Despite overwhelming evidence that Open Source software saves schools money and enhances learning, the Open Source Consortium states that Becta is taking no practical steps to help schools to adopt Open Source. In their recent analysis of Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007, Becta called on the ICT industry to ensure that computers for the education marketplace are delivered with a choice of Office productivity suites, ideally including an Open Source offering. Yet schools are unable to purchase any Open Source office suites through Becta’s own procurement frameworks. Latest European Commission research concludes that EU governments should “avoid lifelong vendor lock-in in educational systems by teaching students skills, not specific applications; encourage participation in FLOSS-like
communities.” Mark Taylor, President, Open Source Consortium said: “There is increasing
EU support for Open Source in education. This is the perfect opportunity for Becta to reject accusations that they’re in bed with big suppliers by offering serious support to Linux and Open Source software as valid alternatives. Their own evidence says it will save schools money, so let’s see them provide at least equal opportunities for schools to buy Open Source software, through their e-Learning Credits and the new Learning Platform Framework Agreements.”