[ubuntu-za] Free and Open Source Software in Schools

[Hilton Theunissen]

Hi Gents

I have been down this road - learner,educator,parent,area inspector, 
regional director, doe ict coordinator, doe e-learning facilitator, head 
of department, ict directors, cio's, curriculum innovation, ICT 
examiners, subject advisors, provincial HOD, provincial secretary 
general, prov MEC (some of them even open labs), national office (all 
3floors), the Ministers other Ministers. In 2005 the then Deputy 
Minister on behalve of the Minister Pandor endorsed tuXlabs, encourage 
the use open source and then 3months later at an open forum publically 
challenge me on the relevancy of open source in SA education.

just today had a group of officials from Nepad, last week I had yet 
another discussion from somebody at the SITA FLOSS Office. I chatted to 
a Gov IT officer thats sits on both the GITO and floss sub committee, 
future looks "frustrating". I gave free computers to one of the FET 
colleges to establish an open source lab - they gathering dust!!!

I posted a message to gain support for 5 ubuntu computer labs in 
Pietermaritzburg, one response to date.

I wish to encourage those following this topic to go with after school 
computer clubs at resourced and private schools. do this for 2009 and 
then plan for school labs in 2010 or even 2011.

Or maybe my timing has been wrong since 
 
 
 
 
  2002. Let me know, either way I will support the effort.

Hilton



Sudhashen Naicker wrote:
> Hi
> 
> I have also made some overtures and had talks with some people high up 
> in the Education Department.  I must say I am rather taken aback by the 
> going on's there.  I have it on good authority that M$ is firmly 
> entrenched in this department to the effect that they threaten to pull 
> funding(among other things) if there is some threat to their status 
> quo.  Some(very few) people in the department have been advocating 
> change but due to the above, they find it hard going.
> 
> I'd love to see something come of the opportunity you have below - 
> however after my adventures in that space, I have a very jaundiced view 
> of any support the Department of Education will offer. 
> 
> Will be watching this space.
> 
> Kind Regards
> 
> Sudhashen Naicker
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Hannes Coetzee wrote:
>> Greetings..
>>
>> An update - My girlfriend's aunt works for the educational department 
>> and she has one of the more senior positions. I managed to get hold of 
>> her today and I explained to her some of the problems we're having with 
>> FOSS software in government schools. She's more that happy to forward 
>> information to the correct people. She has always been in favor of 
>> anything that would benefit the education of kids in South Africa and I 
>> have no doubt that she will do whatever she can to help.  She's waiting 
>> to hear from us.
>>
>> Regards
>> Hannes
>>
>>
>>   
>