[x-post] Petition for MHRD to include Open Source in New Education Policy

[Rushabh Mehta]

Dear all,

The Ministry of HRD is inviting comments on the New Education Policy Draft that was recently published.

Surprisingly and to much disappointment there is no emphasis on using Free and Open Source for IT tools for education.

To this effect Prof Milind Oka has drafted a petition to the Minister to rectify this. More details in the petition:

https://www.change.org/p/petition-for-mandating-use-of-free-and-open-source-software-in-new-education-policy-2016

Please sign it if you believe that Free and Open Source software must be given emphasis and please do share this so we can raise more awareness on this issue.

Thanks!

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https://erpnext.com

Twitter: @rushabh_mehta

[srinivas kodali]

Hey,

Why sign a petition on a third party website, when you can send suggestions to govt. until July 31? There is lot of scope for Open Access in education, but suggesting them is the best way, if it lacks few things as you probably are not opposing the entire policy.

Regards,
Srinivas Kodali
www.lostprogrammer.com

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[Rushabh Mehta]

Hey,

Why sign a petition on a third party website, when you can send suggestions to govt. until July 31? There is lot of scope for Open Access in education, but suggesting them is the best way, if it lacks few things as you probably are not opposing the entire policy.

This is just more convenient.

Cleary we are not opposing the policy, but asking them to include Open Source in the IT tools.

[Arun Ganesh]

CIET inside NCERT has been a big promoter of using FOSS in the school curriculum :

Page 8, http://www.ncert.nic.in/announcements/notices/pdf_files/ICT%20Curriculuma.pdf

Use of proprietary software would become very expensive and make the implementation unviable. Therefore, Free and Open Source software have been suggested throughout the curricula. The use of FOSS applications will also obviate software piracy and enable customisation to suit local needs.

The existing National Policy on ICT In School Education 2012 has a provision to support open source:

Sec 6.3.1, http://mhrd.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/upload_document/revised_policy%20document%20ofICT.pdf 

A software environment favouring a pedagogy of learning which promotes active learning, participatory and collaborative practices and sharing of knowledge is essential to nurture a creative society. Free and Open Source Software – operating system and software applications will be preferred in order to expand the range of learning, creation and sharing.

Are we going back in time again? 

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Arun Ganesh

(planemad)