Let’s go talk about the Philippines and the spread of GNU/Linux in this, as PGMA calls it – 2nd World Country.
“A Computer for Every School” or ACES is a government project aiming to put at least one (1) computer in every school in the Philippines. But with the budget limited, they are now considering using GNU/Linux instead (I wish I quickly bookmarked that news article from a local newspaper that is also publishing online, which I came across accidentally), with that, I strongly recommend using Edubuntu.
Follow up:
Take a look at Macedonia’s Computer For Every Child program for putting Edubuntu instead of some other proprietary OS.
By selecting Ubuntu as the operating system for all our classroom virtual PCs, our education system can provide computer-based education for all schoolchildren within the limited financial and infrastructural confines that most institutions face today.
It will save the Philippine Government a lot compared to buying Microsoft Windows Licenses – be it a bundle license, nothing compares with Free/gratis OS like Edubuntu. What is Edubuntu?
- It is an OS based on the Ubuntu Distribution using GNU/Linux
- It is geared towards schools (kindergarten to high school [colleges should use Ubuntu or Kubuntu])
- It is committed and believes in the principles of FLOSS or Free/Libre Open-Source Software, in other words “FREEDOM”
Some of the applications that comes with Edubuntu:
Periodic Table of Elements
Math
Games for the Younger Kids
And many more. To summarize:
- The KDE Edutainment Suite – good for students in the Elementary and High School levels
- GCompris: I Have Understood – Gcompris is a huge collection of activities for the kindergarten. It gently introduces kids to basic computer use, then it builds on that by expanding to basic maths, reading activities, and more
- Tux4Kids – includes TuxPaint, TuxMaths, and TuxTyping
- Schooltool Calendar – useful for Teachers and students alike; students will learn to be organized and be ‘prompt’ on their schedules; teachers can easily create schedules and plan activities school-wide
- OpenOffice.org Office Suite – uses the Open Document Format or ODF which is also known as ISO/IEC 26300:2006 an ISO and OASIS standard for Office Applications (learn more about ODF below)
What does IBM says about the Open Document Format (ODF)? (IBM on ODF)
What are the benefits of ODF?
ODF is important and valuable because it provides choice, cost effectiveness, and control over the use of your documents and the intellectual property they contain. ODF enables efficient interchange of information between various parts of an organization and between organizations. By using tools that support ODF, customers are not locked into one particular vendor for their IBM Lotus Symphony. ODF helps provide interoperability and flexibility. Adopting ODF-supporting applications in your business or service means you are not required to purchase an application from a single vendor in order to share and communicate your document data.
Here are some more screenshots provided by Edubuntu Official Website:
Good Reading about the Open Document Format – an ISO and OASIS Standard being embraced not just by companies but by Governments around the world!
OpenOffice ISO Press Release
Wikipedia Embraces OpenDocument Format
ODF Alliance Boasts a Growing List of ODF Supporters
Sun will Support OpenOffice.org (Suite)
Dutch gov blows open standards raspberry at Microsoft