[PLUG] An Important News Regarding FOSS

[Milind Oka]

Hi all,

In reply to my letter, SSC/HSC board had assured to implement the open 
source policy in School Education. (Letter dated 19-05-2016)
They only put footnotes in Syllabus that "open source software can be 
used in the ICT".  Of course convincing Schools
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".

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.
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.

I suppose this clears the most important hurdle in proliferation of FOSS.

I take this opportunity to congratulate State Board for taking this 
decision in favor of FOSS.

Links for two news paper articles and the circular :

http://www.mediafire.com/view/4nqamkqxy2ps03i/HT-1-5-17.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/view/f4nhepll68s8fyy/MATA-2-5-17.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/file/a6410kf396tkuyl/Board_Circular_-_1_July_2016.pdf

Thanks and Regards
Milind

Forwarding old thread for reference :

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: 	Exit Of Microsoft from School Education ?
Date: 	Wed, 01 Jun 2016 10:24:19 +0530
From: 	Milind Oka <oak445 at gmail.com>
To: 	plug-mail at plug.org.in



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




-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://list.plug.org.in/pipermail/plug-mail/attachments/20170503/be1b0c29/attachment.html>