The Swiss Open Systems User Group /ch/open is calling on schools to switch to using open source, now that these can no longer use a discount contract to purchase proprietary software licences. Their volume licence deal was cancelled earlier this spring, in connection with an ongoing investigation into possible fraud. "Open source is a convenient and practical alternative, promoted also by Educa, the country's national coordination platform for ICT in education."

In a statement, the group points to an article in the Swiss Handelszeitung, a business newspaper, reporting that schools are facing increased costs when renewing licences of their proprietary applications. The advocacy group says that moving to open source lessens the schools' dependence on IT vendors. The group refers to the Canton of Geneva as a practical example. "There, the Department of Education is switching several thousands of school workstations to Ubuntu Linux and LibreOffice. The canton is in no way affected by the cancelled proprietary licence contract."

Tablet PCs

This Tuesday, the Swiss daily newspaper Der Bund reports on the switch in the Geneva canton. The paper quotes Manuel Grandjean, the director of the canton's Department of Education: "We want to avoid training our students to use one specific tool." A switch to a more mixed IT environment, using open source as well as proprietary systems will be completed this year at the canton's primary schools, the director says. The department is also testing the use of tablet PCs in secondary schools.

Another option, /ch/open points out, is to switch to using the Lernstick. This USB-key, preloaded with operating system and applications, is developed by the resource centre on digital media in education, part of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland. "The Lernstick is well documented and is used in dozens of schools in Switzerland and abroad."

The advocacy group is talking with Educa , discussing ways to promote the use of open source in schools and make it easier for schools to switch.

More information:

Statement by /ch/open on the Swiss Canton of Geneva (in German)
/ch/open press statement (in German)
Department of Education Canton of Geneva.
Lernstick (in German)
Lernstick at Educa