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

Mon Mar 23 05:46:03 GMT 2009

Hi Sudhashen,

Thanks, awaiting for the letter

William
________________________________________
From: ubuntu-za-bounces at lists.ubuntu.com [ubuntu-za-bounces at lists.ubuntu.com] On Behalf Of Sudhashen Naicker [sudhashen at ixion.co.za]
Sent: 22 March 2009 20:41
To: Ubuntu South African Local Community
Subject: Re: [ubuntu-za] Free and Open Source Software in Schools

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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>>
>>
> 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

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