Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> espoused:
> Education dept eyes stronger free software policy
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| South Africa's education department may re-look at its policies
>| regarding free and open source software and pursue a stronger open
>| source strategy in light of the government's free software strategy
>| adopted in February this year.
> `----
>
> http://www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?src=rss&id=1460
>
> Microsoft's miserable attempts are giving a crippled version (Starter
> Edition) for free, limiting people in so many ways (lockins, 3 processes at
> most at any one time, et cetera). Everywhere in Africa it's a move to Linux,
> based on the press.
>
Once we see a few millions of people using this stuff, we'll see coverage
on eg., the BBC of all these schools using OLPCs, Ubuntu machines,
and so on; then there'll be interviews with people here who say things
like "well, of course, we've been arguing for this for several years,
but the government agency, Becta, doesn't seem able to see past the word
'Microsoft'." At which point, no doubt, the Becta people will instantly
emerge with a couple of studies they've done which show, without a doubt,
that the UK should seriously investigate the use of OSS for some point
in the future, and in the meantime, they've just negotiated a huge
improvement in Windows licensing charges, down from £150 to £75per
child, and they're working /really/ hard to get it down the remaining
£73 in order to match the US$3 price at which it is licensed elsewhere.
>
> Related:
>
> Nepad e-Schools kicks off in SA
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| Maripe is one of six schools in SA in which computer labs and
>| audio-visual centres will be installed as part of the demo project,
>| which includes 18 African countries. The initiative was launched in
>| March 2003 and aims to see the digitisation of all of the estimated
>| 600 000 schools in Africa by 2013.
>|
>| [...]
>|
>| The computers have been equipped with a Linux operating system,
>| e-mail client, browser and office productivity suite, and
>| educational software that assists in the learning process, as
>| well as the administration and maintenance of the school.
> `----
>
> http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/business/2007/0704181037.asp?A=BUS&S=Business&T=News&O=ST
> http://tinyurl.com/2n8pa8
>
>
> A critical eye on the glamorous Open Source
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| Open source remains one of this year's hot IT topics. Last month the
>| government announced the formal adoption of its open source policy and
>| strategy in a cabinet statement declaring that the government would migrate
>| to open source software.
>|
>| [...]
>|
>| In its announcement last month, the government also stated that all
>| new software developed for, or by, government will be based on open
>| standard. We congratulate it for this excellent initiative.
> `----
>
> http://www.mybroadband.co.za/nephp/?m=show&id=6117
>
>
> [South African] Government switches to Open Source
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| Cape Town - Cabinet has approved a policy and strategy to implement
>| Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in government, government
>| communications head Themba Maseko said on Thursday.
> `----
>
> http://www.ioltechnology.co.za/article_page.php?iSectionId=2888&iArticleId=3695987
> http://tinyurl.com/2c8lbz
>
>
> Nonprofit bolsters IT program for low-tech nations
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| Inveneo created a new Linux-based operating system for the S50, and
>| a complete open source desktop application suite, including instant
>| messaging, word processing, spreadsheet and Web browser.
> `----
>
> http://www.linuxworld.com/news/2007/041107-nonprofit-low-tech-nations.html?fsrc=rss-linux-news
> http://tinyurl.com/yq2ls6
>
>
> AMD brings Linux to East Africans
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| Inveneo CTO Jeff Wishnie said that Inveneo created its own Linux
>| port in-house, incorporating open source software packages such
>| as OpenOffice, Firefox, Sylpheed, and Asterisk. Inveneo Linux also
>| includes rdesktop, a Microsoft RDP (remote desktop protocol)
>| client, enabling the clients to host Windows-only applications,
>| such as some distance learning programs, when necessary.
> `----
>
> http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6428796596.html
>
>
> Tapping a world of schoolroom innovation
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| SchoolTool began development in 2000 and is funded by Mark Shuttleworth,
>| of the South African-based Shuttleworth Foundation, creator of the
>| free Ubuntu operating system.
> `----
>
> http://www.pbn.com/stories/24545.html
>
>
> Open source project aids South African students
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| The non-profit tuXlab program, which provides network connectivity
>| along with tuXlab GNU/Linux desktops and other open-source software
>| to South Africa high schools, integrated 10 more schools into its
>| wireless network on Feb. 9. The project reportedly has now connected
>| tuXlabs in 50 schools near Cape Town.
> `----
>
> http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS3015125106.html
>
>
> Back to school - tuXlab reviewed
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| tuXlabs is a freely distributed educational software package running
>| on a specialised Ubuntu derivative which has been rolled out to
>| schools across South Africa and serves over 160,000 learners.
> `----
>
> http://www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?src=rss&id=1397
--
| Mark Kent -- mark at ellandroad dot demon dot co dot uk |
| Cola faq: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/linux/advocacy/faq-and-primer/ |
| Cola trolls: http://colatrolls.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
