"Freedom matters"
Hi, I believe a clarification is needed for the mail from Mahesh T pai about IT Text books of kerala schools.
The text book is divided in to two sections, Windows and GNU/Linux. Windows section explains how to work in windows world and GNU/Linux explains how to work in GNU/Linux world. Microsoft Office is given in the windows section whereas Openoffice is given in GNU/Linux section and so on. The students,Teachers or School can choose either windows or GNU/Linux according to the facilities available. So it a choice of the schools.(Now its our duty to reach schools and bring them to GNU/Liunux world)
The Kochi Free Software User's group had submitted a memorandum against similar moves by the Kerala Govt. The memo was partly successful.
The authorities was totally unwilling to include GNU/Linux in the text book. Its not a single memorandum which made the change. A lot of work by several persons is there behind the change. A lot of persons and groups have contributed to the effort, the memorandum by FSUG Cochin is one among them.
the syllabus itself is not changed. But the text books have been re-written - I said - REWRITTEN, to include references to GNU/LINUX. GNU/LINUX, and nothing else. No references to applications like GIMP, or the concepts of free software.
The concepts of free software is included in the text. Text book of 8th std have two "boxes" dealing with the concept about free software, and includes "boxes" about RMS and Linus trovalds. The students are asked to collect information about free softwares as the part of "activities"
GIMP will be included in 10th std text book. In 8th std Xpaint is used for basic Graphic works. I too agrees that our work is not 100% success. There are issues yet to address But in the current situation in kerala its a big success.
They are now including OpenOffice.org in the Xth std textbooks.
Openoffice is included from the 8th std itself. The basic introduction is provided in 8th std, more features are given in 9th and some more in 10th.
I find that the text book committee is more interested in creating something like one of those 'for dummies' series books for proprietary software.
I don't know what forced him to make such a commend. Just go through the textbook, can we compare it with "for dummies series?"
The IT text book commitee members are most pro towards GNU/Linux. All of them are well aware of the facts. The have taken all the effort to include GNU/Linux in IT Text book. Its their effort which resulted in including GNU/Linux in IT Text book when all authorities above them are Pro Mircosoft and Anti GNU. The IT Textbook commitee of Kerala, (Headed by Pro. satyapalan SCERT) is trying their level best to bring GNU/Linux to kerala schools. Don't simply critisice them without considering actual facts.
-----------------Regards SajithVK-------------
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Sajith V K said on Sun, Aug 17, 2003 at 07:49:07PM +0530,:
can we compare it with "for dummies series?"
Hey!!! The "For Dummies" series of books is a very respected series of books for beginners to software.
Sajith V K said on Sun, Aug 17, 2003 at 07:49:07PM +0530,:
From: Sajith V K sajith_vk@hotmail.com
Oops.
I do not intend to play down contributions and efforts of people working for free software in the IT@school project. I am sorry if my message conveyed anything of that sort.
The text book is divided in to two sections, Windows and GNU/Linux.
Which text book? VIIIth? IXth? Xth?
Its not a single memorandum which made the change. A lot of work by several persons is there behind the change. A lot of persons and groups have contributed to the effort, the memorandum by FSUG Cochin is one among them.
I fully appreciate and commend the efforts and hard work of people working for implementing free software in the schools. All I tried to convey was that due to opposition from authorities in the government, this hard work people has yielded very little results.
This is what I said:-
<quote> Given the phenomenal resistance from the establishment to swatantra software, this much (sic - is) a great success. <unquote>
The memo is pointed only to provide our friends with some arguments in favour of Free Software to be placed before the authorities at the CBSE. Formal writted demands need to be backed and supported by efforts from individuals who spread the gospel of free software so that the CBSE can switch over to free software.
A good and sturdy table has four legs. All the four need to stand on good ground. Right???
It will help the original poster if Mr Sajith shares his experience in getting the authorities in Kerala consent to inclusion of GNU/Linux in the text book. This will from the practical part of the job on hand. Mr Sajith has done precisely that, but unfortunately his reply is couched in negative terms.
The concepts of free software is included in the text. Text book of 8th std have two "boxes" dealing with the concept about free software, and includes "boxes" about RMS and Linus trovalds. The students are asked to collect information about free softwares as the part of "activities"
(snip)
GIMP will be included in 10th std text book. In 8th std Xpaint is used for basic Graphic works.
(snip)
I too agrees that our work is not 100% success. There are issues yet to address But in the current situation in kerala its a big success.
I believe that the text book for VIIIth is already published, and is there for all to see. There is no point in having a war of words on contents of the text books. It only diverts the subject matter of the thread, which is 'helping the CBSE make a switch over' to swatantra software.
The IT text book commitee members are most pro towards GNU/Linux.
(snip)
Don't simply critisice them without considering actual facts.
I quoted from my posted above.
The memo is pointed only to provide our friends with some points to be placed before the CBSE authorities. Formal written demands need to be backed and supported by efforts from individuals who spread the gospel of free software so that the CBSE can switch over to free software.
This what the original message said:-
<quote>I am looking for people who will help in pressurising CBSE and AICTE to change the syllabus to generic applications viz Learn a spreadsheet NOT SPECIFICALLY M$ EXCEL and so on. <unquote>
The post wanted help to change the *syllabus*. He was not looking for help for a swatantra implementation of a non-free syllabus. I believe that The CBSE does not insist on proprietary software and permits use of free software by schools. But, the permission is tacit, nothing in writing. I remember reading somewhere that people at Delhi LUG were instrumental in that part. People at GSCP, Goa, have been successful in getting similar assurances (viz. non-free in syllabus, free in practise) from the educational authorities of Goa.
Our friend was asking for more. That requires a very formal approach. Efforts by Mr. Sajith and his friends, while certainly significant and important, are based on tacit and silent approval of authorities. If somebody takes up the issue, the Government will be forced to withdraw the text books created by the present committee because they do not conform to the syllabus.
Or has the Govt. of Kerala changed the syllabus?
The text book is divided in to two sections, Windows and GNU/Linux.
Which text book? VIIIth? IXth? Xth?
All of them,
.
I believe that the text book for VIIIth is already published, and is there for all to see. There is no point in having a war of words on
Just for clarity, 8th standard book has been revised and went for reprint. New version includes GNU/Linux section.
Our friend was asking for more. That requires a very formal approach. Efforts by Mr. Sajith and his friends, while certainly significant and important, are based on tacit and silent approval of authorities. If somebody takes up the issue, the Government will be forced to withdraw the text books created by the present committee because they do not conform to the syllabus.
Or has the Govt. of Kerala changed the syllabus?
Syllabus was corrected and rewritting the text book was done after that. Issue now is Govt is not willing to provide training to teachers. This needs to be addressed by us. Regarding withdrawing the text book, it will be too difficult at this stage, for various reasons.
regards, arun.
Arun M said on Mon, Aug 18, 2003 at 08:13:54AM +0530,:
Syllabus was corrected and rewritting the text book was done after that.
That is a major victory for free software. Hats off to you guys working for inclusion of free s/w in ITatSchool project. This deserves better publicity.
Hey!!! unless you guys speak out, how are others to know about your achievements??? I guess that most of us are under the impression that things are remaining static for past 6 - 8 months. At least, I am.
Why don't you get the syllabus published on the IT at school project site??? (the site contains a lot of flash, which is non-free, but that is a different matter altogether).
Issue now is Govt is not willing to provide training to teachers. This needs to be addressed by us.
Sure. That can be worked out. How does the govt. decide on the training?
Regarding withdrawing the text book, it will be too difficult at this stage, for various reasons.
No body is asking for that.
I just pointed out that if somebody decides to make it an issue of it, hard work by you people will go down the drain if portions on free software was included when the syllabus does not mention free software. A text book containing OpenOffice.org when the syllabus specifically mentions, say, 'abiword' would be hard to justify, or rather, easy to withdraw, so far as the proponents of non-free are concerned.
I still fail to get why SVK felt that I am criticising the entire text book committee.
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Arun M -
Mahesh T. Pai -
Sajith V K