Open Source Consortium sends Becta back to school

Becta is accused of taking no practical steps to help schools adopt open source

The Open Source Consortium (OSC) has thrown down the gauntlet to the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta), urging the organisation to turn its talk of promoting open source software into action.

The OSC claims that, despite overwhelming evidence that open source software saves schools money and enhances learning, Becta is taking no practical steps to help schools adopt open source.

In its recent analysis of Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007, Becta called on the tech industry to ensure that computers for the education marketplace are delivered with a choice of office productivity suites.

However, the OSC alleges that schools are unable to purchase any open source office suites through Becta's own procurement frameworks.

Mark Taylor, president of the OSC, said: "There is increasing Europen Union support for open source in education.

"This is the perfect opportunity for Becta to reject accusations that it is in bed with big suppliers by offering serious support to Linux and open source software as valid alternatives.

"Becta's 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."

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