Russian schools move to Linux

Category Linux, Education | Permalink | 13. October 2007

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Schoolchildren in Russia are to be taught using the free, open-source Linux software in an effort to cut the cost of teaching information technology.

By 2009, all computers in Russian schools are to be run on Linux - which means they will not have to pay for a licence for software, such as Microsoft’s Windows.

Alexey Smirnov, Director General of the Company ALTLinux, said that schools formerly tended to run illegal copies of Microsoft operating systems, but after Russia entered the WTO, the laws became much stricter and schools began to be prosecuted for doing so.

“The situation became rather serious, and something had to be done,” he told BBC World Service’s Digital Planet programme.

“One possible decision was to buy licences for all the software being used - but so much software was being used, it proved too expensive… so the decision was taken to use free software, although not immediately, but over three years.”

Source and More : http://news.bbc.co.uk

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