Educational open-source contract "a sham"

 

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By Matthew Sparkes

Posted on 16 Jun 2008 at 11:06

The Open Source Consortium has labelled the awarding of an educational open-source promotion contract as a "sham" and "political sleaze".

Becta, the organisation tasked with advising Government on the use of IT in education, has awarded a £270,000 contract to help schools source and support open-source software to AlphaPlus, a company which the OSC claims has little relevant experience

"Becta awarded their 'Open Source Schools' project to establishment insiders and cronies, with no open-source credentials or capabilities, rather than organisations who could and would make the project work," says Mark Taylor, president of the Open Source Consortium, in an open letter to Becta.

The project is designed to encourage schools to use open-source software as well as provide support and education in its use and maintenance, following Becta's recommendation in 2005 that it could reduce the cost of running IT systems in primary schools by between 20% and 50%.

"Funny how the UK public sector is the only one in the world who consistently 'trial' open-source by giving projects to those least capable of delivering them, and then claim that it 'doesn't work'," criticises Taylor, before suggesting that schools ignore the advice of the appointed consultants and instead look to Open Source Consortium members for guidance on open software.

Earlier this year Becta warned against schools upgrading to Microsoft Windows Vista, explaining that the upgrade could cost £175 million across England and Wales.