[PLUG] plug-mail Digest, Vol 17, Issue 1

[jayant ogale]

>
>Date: Wed, 01 Jun 2016 10:24:19 +0530
>From: Milind Oka <oak445 at gmail.com>
>To: plug-mail at plug.org.in
>Subject: [PLUG] Exit Of Microsoft from School Education ?
>Message-ID: <574E6A7B.6040607 at gmail.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"; Format="flowed"
>
>Hi,
>
>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.
>
>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.
>
>Note that MHRD has used the word "PREFER" while Board is cleverly using 
>"CAN"  !
>
>Anyway, I assume that this is only a symbolic exit of Microsoft from 
>State's Schools Education.
>
>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.
>
>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.
>
>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.
>
>http://www.mediafire.com/view/seufdy593ocbaiu/Notice_To_SSC-HSC_Board.jpg
>http://www.mediafire.com/view/uccych8u0hnqt6g/Notice_To_SSC-HSC_Board_%28Reply%29.jpg 
>
>http://www.mediafire.com/download/nouxfd9a1hxnwd4/MHRD_-_Remove_Microsoft.pdf 
>
>
>
>-- Milind

>
hi Mr. Oak,
i really appreciate your efforts.
but as per my view, the words "CAN" and "PREFER" are some what parallel.
both have an escape route to MS.
in fact, if the govt. is on the path of adopting linux, they should stop MS-CIT and start LINUX-CIT.
jayant