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

[Hannes Coetzee]

> Hannes Coetzee wrote:
>   
>>> Hi Hilton,
>>>
>>> As I have said in previous posts "So the problem is the Education Dept."
>>>
>>> Problem with going via the resourced and private schools, is that the Education dept tells them what to use/do. As these schools have to still write the Educational Dept's exams.
>>>
>>> I think that as a FOSS community we should start writing letters to the Main Education Dept, and all  the Education Depts of the provinces.
>>>
>>> We need to start doing this, I have already sent, to this list, what I think would be required for 2 possible pamphlets/flyers, so lets change it to reflect the community, then also start writing a letter, and signatures that will back up this letter.
>>>
>>> Hilton, as you already know some of the people that these letters need to go, can we possibly have a list of names and e-mail addresses.
>>>
>>> If I am going about this  the wrong way, please respond.
>>>
>>> William
>>>
>>> ________________________________________
>>> From: ubuntu-za-bounces at lists.ubuntu.com [ubuntu-za-bounces at lists.ubuntu.com] On Behalf Of Hilton Theunissen [hilton at inkululeko.co.za]
>>> Sent: 19 March 2009 21:28
>>> To: Ubuntu South African Local Community
>>> Subject: Re: [ubuntu-za] Free and Open Source Software in Schools
>>>
>>> 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
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>       
>>>>>         
>>>>>           
>>> --
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>>> ubuntu-za at lists.ubuntu.com
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>>>
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>>>
>>>   
>>>     
>>>       
>> Hi
>>
>> I was about to suggest the same thing. Those of us who are in contact 
>> with schools have more or less the same problems and it is always the 
>> same things preventing FOSS to get into schools. Can those of us who 
>> have had firsthand experience with FOSS in schools and the problems that 
>> goes with it write a letter addressed to the education department 
>> explaining our experiences? If you know of someone not on this list who 
>> can help with a letter let them know. I think a few letters addressed to 
>> the department could make a difference. We could also include letters 
>> from an individual point of view on how we as individuals benefit from 
>> FOSS and our general experiences. I'll forward the letters to the 
>> department when everyone shared their views on the subject.
>>
>> I was asked to get something together to present to the governing body 
>> at two of our local junior schools who would like to use edubuntu and 
>> the educational programs that comes with it. I'll post it here when I'm 
>> done.
>>
>> I will go through the posts of the past few weeks tomorrow and add what 
>> has not been addresses so far.
>>
>> Regards
>> Hannes
>>
>>
>>
>>   
>>     
>
> Hi
>
> OK - this is a start.  I'll draw up a letter from my side and send to you. 
>
> Maybe an idea here as well.  If we could contact all the LUG's across 
> the provinces and draw up letters that way too?  This could bring 
> together the community nationwide in a great way and also present a 
> united front.  It would also be a means of providing support across 
> provinces for all government schools. 
>
> Crazy?
>
>
> Regards
> Sudhashen
>
>   
Thanks Sudhashen.

It took a bit longer than I expected to sort through everything so I'm 
not quite done yet. Is it OK if I make a wiki page to stick everything 
onto for now? There are still a few things that could be added and we 
can always remove the page later. I'll carry on tonight.

Regards
Hannes