begin oe_protect.scr
Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> espoused:
> Becta pays lip-service to Open Source
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| 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."
> `----
>
> http://sourcewire.com/releases/rel_display.php?relid=29102&hilite=
>
> Still in bed with Microsoft, being defensive to criticism when necessary.
>
What's encouraging, though, is that what we've been saying here for
years is being recognised in mainstream politics. The dangers of
teaching "Microsoft Office" instead of word-processing or spreadsheet
usage or whatever are now well recognised. Same thing applies to "ICT"
which should be about computing generally, not about "Microsoft
Windows".
Whilst the EU might be ineffective at resolving many intra-European
difficulties, it's been far more effective at handling threats from
outside, including Software Patents and Microsoft's lock-in software.
It would be worthwhile for those working in HMG's agencies on behalf of
HMG to take the EU's remarks seriously.
--
| Mark Kent -- mark at ellandroad dot demon dot co dot uk |
When you're bored with yourself, marry, and be bored with someone else.
-- David Pryce-Jones
|
|
