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<div class="moz-forward-container">Hi all,<br>
<br>
In reply to my letter, SSC/HSC board had assured to implement the
open source policy in School Education. (Letter dated 19-05-2016)<br>
They only put footnotes in Syllabus that "open source software can
be used in the ICT". Of course convincing Schools<br>
and Jr Colleges to adopt FOSS only on this letter and footnote
would not have been possible. So I called it as "Symbolic Exit of
Microsoft".<br>
<br>
But I am too happy to inform you that on 1 July 2016 a proper
circular was released which instructs schools and Jr colleges to
prefer FOSS in clear words.<br>
I came to know about it through an HT article (Thanks to Dr
Kamath, and to Prof Tayyab Ali for pointing out this article).
Consequently "Maharashtra Times" published another one.<br>
<br>
I suppose this clears the most important hurdle in proliferation
of FOSS.<br>
<br>
I take this opportunity to congratulate State Board for taking
this decision in favor of FOSS.<br>
<br>
Links for two news paper articles and the circular :<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.mediafire.com/view/4nqamkqxy2ps03i/HT-1-5-17.jpg">http://www.mediafire.com/view/4nqamkqxy2ps03i/HT-1-5-17.jpg</a><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.mediafire.com/view/f4nhepll68s8fyy/MATA-2-5-17.jpg">http://www.mediafire.com/view/f4nhepll68s8fyy/MATA-2-5-17.jpg</a><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/a6410kf396tkuyl/Board_Circular_-_1_July_2016.pdf">http://www.mediafire.com/file/a6410kf396tkuyl/Board_Circular_-_1_July_2016.pdf</a><br>
<br>
Thanks and Regards<br>
Milind<br>
<br>
Forwarding old thread for reference :<br>
<br>
-------- Forwarded Message --------
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cellspacing="0" border="0">
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<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">Subject:
</th>
<td>Exit Of Microsoft from School Education ?</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">Date: </th>
<td>Wed, 01 Jun 2016 10:24:19 +0530</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">From: </th>
<td>Milind Oka <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:oak445@gmail.com"><oak445@gmail.com></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">To: </th>
<td><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:plug-mail@plug.org.in">plug-mail@plug.org.in</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<br>
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<div class="moz-text-flowed" style="font-family: -moz-fixed;
font-size: 12px;" lang="x-unicode">Hi, <br>
<br>
On 27 may 2016, Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and
Higher Secondary Education has given a reply to my notice.
Maharashtra State Board was neglecting Open Source directives
given by MHRD. Though the Circular in this regard was issued,
it was published in the education booklet "Shikshan Sankraman"
!. The circular as Important as this, which could have saved
huge amounts for Schools, must have been given to Schools
directly and it must have been given wide publicity in major
news papers. <br>
<br>
The Board's claim that by putting a note - "Schools and
Colleges can use Open Source Software" on index page, they
have followed directions given by MHRD is ridiculous. In the
remaining pages of the reply, Board has given photocopies
copies of the changes they have made in 2016-17 text books to
be printed soon, and they have clarified further that Open
Source can be used in "Theory as well as in Practicals" which
is very important. <br>
<br>
Note that MHRD has used the word "PREFER" while Board is
cleverly using "CAN" ! <br>
<br>
Anyway, I assume that this is only a symbolic exit of
Microsoft from State's Schools Education. <br>
<br>
This covers State Schools and Junior Colleges in Maharashtra.
But University Education too is compelling degree colleges to
use proprietary software. Situation is somewhat better in
Engineering courses but in the courses such as Computer
Applications (TYBcom), there are softwares like MS Excel and
Visual Basic. Also there are direct questions in the
examination on the commands used in Excel and VB. I am going
to send similar letter to Mumbai University too. <br>
<br>
Also the course MS-ACIT has been made mandatory for teachers.
This course is exclusively an advertisement of Microsoft and
other other proprietary software. Since after removing
proprietary software from school. This course, which itself is
a violation of MHRD notification, becomes meaningless for
teachers. Hence appropriate changes are necessary in this
course curriculum. We have to follow this matter in Education
Department. <br>
<br>
I request all to help Schools in Maharashtra aware of the
purpose and significance of this change and make open source
movement stronger. Otherwise it will remain only on paper. <br>
<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.mediafire.com/view/seufdy593ocbaiu/Notice_To_SSC-HSC_Board.jpg">http://www.mediafire.com/view/seufdy593ocbaiu/Notice_To_SSC-HSC_Board.jpg</a>
<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.mediafire.com/view/uccych8u0hnqt6g/Notice_To_SSC-HSC_Board_%28Reply%29.jpg">http://www.mediafire.com/view/uccych8u0hnqt6g/Notice_To_SSC-HSC_Board_%28Reply%29.jpg</a>
<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.mediafire.com/download/nouxfd9a1hxnwd4/MHRD_-_Remove_Microsoft.pdf">http://www.mediafire.com/download/nouxfd9a1hxnwd4/MHRD_-_Remove_Microsoft.pdf</a>
<br>
<br>
<br>
-- Milind <br>
<br>
<br>
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