|
The Open Source Consortium is supporting Early Day Motion 179 "Software in schools" put down by John Pugh MP in the UK Parliament, criticising Government bodies DfES and Becta for their current attempts to lock out Free and Open Source Software from schools. Through Becta's procurement frameworks, their advice to schools is to only buy proprietary software from a small number of vendors. We urge everyone lobby their MP, asking them to sign the Early Day Motion.
Despite Government studies showing savings of up to 60% for schools using Free and Open Source Software, the take-up in schools has been slow.
Now, software procurement frameworks from Becta and the DfES effectively lock out Open Source. Schools wanting to benefit from Open Source Software are unable to do so if they follow the DfES advice and procure software through the Becta frameworks.
The Open Source Consortium (OSC), recognising these dangers, has lent its support to the Open Schools Alliance - a group of organisations and individuals with a keen interest in ensuring schools continue to have a choice in the IT market - and is pleased to see the first results of this new campaign.
John Pugh MP has tabled Early Day Motion 179 in the House of Commons entitled "Software in Education" which articulates the problems with this approach, and calls on the Government to take another look at ICT procurement for schools. The EDM reads : That this House congratulates the Open University and other schools, colleges and universities for utilising free and open source software to deliver cost-effective educational benefit not just for their own institutions but also the wider community; and expresses concern that Becta and the Department for Education and Skills, through the use of outdated purchasing frameworks, are effectively denying schools the option of benefiting from both free and open source and the value and experience small and medium ICT companies could bring to the schools market.
Iain Roberts, OSC Chief Executive said, "The DfES and Becta tell us they are treating Free/Libre and Open Source Software fairly but the procurement frameworks show that isn't true. Whilst the use of Open Source is soaring in industry, UK schools are being left far behind and are paying the price for this Government's blinkered approach."
The OSC, and other members of the Open Schools Alliance, now call on other MPs to lend their support to this motion, and restore competition and local sourcing to the schools IT market. Other organisations and members of the public are also asked to support this campaign, and can find out more information at the campaign website:
http://www.openschoolsalliance.org
.
 |
News & Events 
