South African Education Department Bans Free and Open Source Software

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South African Education Department Bans Free and Open Source Software

Posted by Unknown on Wednesday October 9, 2013 @05:22AM from the 1993-wants-their-programming-language-back dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The South African Education Department has effectively banned the use of FOSS software in state-run schools by forcing all candidates writing the Computer Applications Technology examination to use Microsoft's Office 2010 or 2013 as the only supported options. In the same circular, the state has mandated that all schools use Delphi, instead of Java, as the programming language for the country's Information Technology practical paper. South Africa, notorious for its poor performance in Maths and Science and for having vastly over-crowded and underfunded schools, are now locked into costly Microsoft licensing because of this decision."

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(sniffs cautiously) by zooblethorpe · 2013-10-09 05:24 · Score: 5, Insightful

Well, I don't smell any hint of corruption here, no sirree!
</sarcasm>

--
"What in the name of Fats Waller is that?"
"A four-foot prune."
1. Re:(sniffs cautiously) by gstoddart · 2013-10-09 05:37 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Well, I don't smell any hint of corruption here, no sirree!
  It doesn't need to be corruption.
  It could merely be incompetence and stupidity.
  
  --
  Lost at C:>. Found at C.
2. Re:(sniffs cautiously) by sneakyimp · 2013-10-09 05:38 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Oh please! This is just an innocent foot-hunting Safari! Everybody knows it's easier to shoot your own foot than someone else's.
3. Re:(sniffs cautiously) by mspohr · 2013-10-09 05:46 · Score: 2
  
  Oracle also has a stranglehold on South Africa government.
  I have seen their "sales" effort in person and it is impressive.
  
  --
  I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
4. Re:(sniffs cautiously) by Anonymous Coward · 2013-10-09 05:53 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Hey now, have an open mind.
  It could be all three!
5. Re:(sniffs cautiously) by avgjoe62 · 2013-10-09 06:10 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Never ascribe that to malice which can be adequately explained by incompetence.
  
  --
  How come Slashdot never gets Slashdotted?
6. Re:(sniffs cautiously) by jellomizer · 2013-10-09 06:27 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Or...
  Trying to have some sort of standard so they are not trying to teach around many different platforms, and Open Source isn't the issue.
  Most of these schools already have a Microsoft license, having some kids do stuff in OpenOffice, or LIbreoffice... Means teachers who are already under stress needs to know how to deal with many platforms.
  As for Delphi... My best guess it they want for focus more on Database application vs Object Oriented.
  Saying that they are banning Open Source because of this is like saying a group of people are not your friends just because they didn't invite you to a particular party.
  Should they be teaching Open Source, absolutely, the more you are taught the better you are... However if you need to pick and choose, then Open Source may not always be the best option.
  
  --
  If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
7. Re:(sniffs cautiously) by Anonymous Coward · 2013-10-09 06:28 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Never ascribe to incompetence what can be adequately explained by greed.
8. Re:(sniffs cautiously) by QRDeNameland · 2013-10-09 07:03 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  The whole "Never ascribe to malice" thing was written by a very malicious person.
  It is attributed to Robert J. Hanlon, though the idea predates him by at least 200 years.
  That said, most people seem to miss the important clarifications of this adage: 1) the key word is "adequately", otherwise stupidity becomes the perfect cover for malice; 2) the "Heinlein's razor" variant that says "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity, but don't rule out malice,"; 3) the corollary known as Grey's Law: "Any sufficiently advanced incompetence is indistinguishable from malice."
  Far too often, I hear read people talking about various gov't bureaucracy, bloat, and largesse and thus declare gov't as "incompetent". Far too seldom do they ask the question "incompetent for whom?"
  
  --
  Momentarily, the need for the construction of new light will no longer exist.
9. Re:(sniffs cautiously) by armanox · 2013-10-09 08:54 · Score: 2
  
  I'd tell them they should have submitted it as a PDF. Not like MS Office documents look the same computer to computer either.
  
  --
  I'm starting to think GNU is the problem with "GNU/Linux" these days.
10. Re:(sniffs cautiously) by pinkushun · 2013-10-09 18:45 · Score: 2
  
  Hey, no way to have an open mind without open software :P
How many people where bribed to make this deal? by Joe_Dragon · 2013-10-09 05:24 · Score: 3, Insightful

How many people where bribed to make this deal?
1. Re:How many people where bribed to make this deal? by Nerdfest · 2013-10-09 05:46 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Relax, all the documents created are ISO standards. There's no lock-in here.
Holy Hype-fest Batman! by CajunArson · 2013-10-09 05:24 · Score: 3, Insightful

"The South African Education Department has effectively banned the use of FOSS software in state-run schools by forcing all candidates writing the Computer Applications Technology examination to use Microsoft's Office 2010 or 2013 as the only supported options."
Fascinating, apparently MS-South Africa has sophisticated technology that seeks out and destroys all open source software simply because Microsoft Office is used for some tasks. This new learning is amazing! Tell me again how sheep-bladders can be used to prevent earthquakes!

--
AntiFA: An abbreviation for Anti First Amendment.
1. Re:Holy Hype-fest Batman! by CajunArson · 2013-10-09 05:30 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Oh one other thing: anybody who says that using "Delphi" is somehow not "open-source" while using Java is "open source" doesn't understand the difference between a programming language in the abstract and a particular piece of software that compiles or interprets code written in the language in the concrete needs a head exam.
  Something tells me these guys: http://www.lazarus.freepascal.org/ would get offended if you tell them that they hate open source because they have an open source implementation of Delphi. Since Delphi is a descendant of Pascal, which has a long history in software education, it's not some evil conspiracy to use Delphi in a classroom setting.
  
  --
  AntiFA: An abbreviation for Anti First Amendment.
2. Re:Holy Hype-fest Batman! by Sarten-X · 2013-10-09 05:33 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  Yep. I'm a FOSS advocate, and I just read the memo linked in the similarly-hyped FA... but this story is a waste of a good outrage.
  A state-led education department has picked a particular product used to cover their basic computing curriculum, and it isn't FOSS. That sucks, but we'll try harder next time. Meanwhile, other schools not under this authority are free to use FOSS, and any schools that can manage extra resources (unlikely, I know) can still present FOSS as alternatives, and FOSS can probably still be used outside the curriculum.
  I set up a computer lab in Ghana, and they had similar policies in place, but with vague enough wording that I could use a carefully-configured OpenOffice installation to cover the requirements. I suspect the actual mandated curriculum in South Africa is likely similar, and this news is just a memo from the authority saying they made the easy choice for picking their standard software.
  TRWTF is Delphi.
  
  --
  You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
3. Re:Holy Hype-fest Batman! by hawguy · 2013-10-09 05:51 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  "The South African Education Department has effectively banned the use of FOSS software in state-run schools by forcing all candidates writing the Computer Applications Technology examination to use Microsoft's Office 2010 or 2013 as the only supported options."
  Fascinating, apparently MS-South Africa has sophisticated technology that seeks out and destroys all open source software simply because Microsoft Office is used for some tasks. This new learning is amazing! Tell me again how sheep-bladders can be used to prevent earthquakes!
  That technology is called "convenience" and "money", and is what was meant by "effectively banned" rather than saying "completely banned".
  Once you've spent the money to purchase the non-FOSS tools that the school requires you to use, you're not going to seek out free/open source replacements for those tools.
  A few FOSS zealots may be willing to use LibreOffice, FreePascal, Linux, etc for most things, and only use the paid tools when he absolutely has to, but the average user isn't going to pay for one environment to use for special tasks, and then set up a completely different FOSS environment where he'll do most of his work.
  (I'm one of those few, I use Linux for 99% of my work, but rdp into a Windows server to run Outlook, Visio, MS-Office, etc when I need to)
4. Re:Holy Hype-fest Batman! by Anonymous Coward · 2013-10-09 06:03 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Of course Delphi is closely tied to the oracle. It already was in ancient Greece. ;-)
5. Re:Holy Hype-fest Batman! by pla · 2013-10-09 06:16 · Score: 2
  
  Once you've spent the money to purchase the non-FOSS tools that the school requires you to use, you're not going to seek out free/open source replacements for those tools.
  
  Key phrase there, "spent the money".
  
  Students in general don't tend to have oodles of disposable cash. South Africa doesn't exactly have a reputation as above-average for personal incomes. Therefore, this "decree" only really means one of two things:
  
  The SA ED has effectively ordered people to pirate Microsoft Office and Delphi, or
  People will use open source tools anyway and just output in Office-compatible file formats.
  
  A few years from now, the SA ED will scratch its head in wonderment as to why every document submitted to it has very slightly screwed up formatting, but in a mysteriously consistent way.
  
  And considering this story comes from South Africa, they will most likely blame witches and torture a few innocent women to death.
Calling Ubuntu by Anonymous Coward · 2013-10-09 05:27 · Score: 4, Insightful

Mark Shuttleworth, please speak up!
Thank you Bill and Belinda Gates by Anonymous Coward · 2013-10-09 05:29 · Score: 3, Insightful

Side effect of the Gates foundation aid to Africa?
Re:Sounds like kick-backs by bleh-of-the-huns · 2013-10-09 05:34 · Score: 4, Funny

In SA, they do not call it a kick back, they call it a "Facilitation Fee" :P

--
I came, I conquered, I coredumped
A wide range of options is always best. by WiiVault · 2013-10-09 05:36 · Score: 3, Interesting

I'm not afraid to admit I use a quite of commercial software and have been quite happy with many products out there. Yes even a few MS ones. But as a person with a functioning brain and an interest in productivity you can bet your ass every time I'm looking at an upgrade I take a moment to survey the options. Often over the course of a major version upgrade cycle I learn that a cheaper or if I'm lucky an OSS solution has become viable for my needs. Any time I see an organization act outside of that simple principle I can suspect only one of two things and neither are good. I usually hope it's just narrow minded ignorance, which with luck can sometimes be cured, but when you lock people into a paid-for only solution it usually ends up being bribery of some sort. Governments are in the end just made up of people, and like in the corporate world the decision makers are often the most selfcentered people in the land. Add to that despite using and recommending certain MS programs and services I have little doubt in my mind that MS is one of the most unethical technology companies in the world- it's how they got where they are.
wait a minute by slashmydots · 2013-10-09 05:38 · Score: 4, Interesting

If my $10 mil company can't afford Office 2013 and is switching to Libre, how the hell can an African school system afford it?
1. Re:wait a minute by oodaloop · 2013-10-09 05:41 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Because they were given a different rate?
  
  --
  Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
incompetence is passive malice by globaljustin · 2013-10-09 06:32 · Score: 2, Insightful

maybe not for every situation, but it certainly applies here...

Never ascribe that to malice which can be adequately explained by incompetence.
this is often a false distinction...true 'incompetence' without malice requires a staggering level of pure ignorance...
Why bother bringing this up?
b/c there is **NO DEFENSE** for what South Africa and M$ are doing here....it is PURE EVIL
I see these discussions on /. whenever a company or government does this horseshit and we all call it out as horseshit...
The idea that this decision was an "honest" mistake is surely *theoretically* possible...but to make an "honest" mistake at this level would require so much ignorance of how daily society works that the person probably wouldn't be able to support themselves...

--
Thank you Dave Raggett
1. Re:incompetence is passive malice by pupsocket · 2013-10-09 08:57 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  In the discussion below the original article, it is noted that Microsoft provides free software to the schools covered by this directive.
  If a cigarette company wants to supply free cigarettes to your students, should you accept?
2. Re:incompetence is passive malice by pupsocket · 2013-10-09 09:42 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  In the discussion below the article, someone from the State Information Technology Agency writes:
  If I had not seen the memo myself I would not have believed it.... DBE was actually busy drafting an excellent guideline for e-Education which was solidly grounded on FOSS and MIOS, also mentioning ODF, and still allowing room for proprietary software where there was really no alternative. This is really going to upset Provinces that have been teaching Java (one of the top 10 languages in use worldwide). It is a clear step backwards. Education had the opportunity to push out a positive wave of change but this will have the exact opposite effect. Worst it constricts the opportunity to explore and experiment with the software. I really don't want to even think of the cost. I have heard some schools already starting to total up the cost to convert back to MS Office...
  Clearly, they knew what they were undermining.
  From the body of the article:
  The South African government has a Free and Open Source Software Policy, that was promulgated in 2007, and this directive is counter to that policy completely in that it FORCES the implementation of proprietary technologies where viable FOSS alternatives exists in contradiction to government's own policy.
They got somebody at the top by ArcadeMan · 2013-10-09 06:45 · Score: 2

Rule of acquisition #98.

--
Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
SA Educational plans and pricing for Office 365 by westlake · 2013-10-09 06:54 · Score: 4, Informative

If my $10 mil company can't afford Office 2013 and is switching to Libre, how the hell can an African school system afford it?
Office 365 plans and pricing for education [South Africa]
Plan A3
Students:
R 23,30 user/month
Faculty and staff:
R 42,00 user/month
1 South African Rand = 10 cents US.
Includes:
Hosted e-mail. 25 GB/user.
Web conferencing, supports HD video, etc.
3,000 SharePoint team sites.
Active directory integration
24/7 phone support
Anti-spam and anti-malware
Office Web Apps
MS Office "Pro" Suite for 5 PCs or Macs/user
Advanced e-mail, advanced voice mail.
May include "MS Office Anywhere" --- stream full Office apps to any PC.
So what are your monthly costs per user for an equivalent bundle of applications and services? How well does Libre Office integrate with third party applications and resources?
Not very Ubuntu by Meeni · 2013-10-09 07:00 · Score: 4, Funny

That's not very Ubuntu feelings, I can feel.
Ethics by Baldrson · 2013-10-09 09:29 · Score: 2, Informative

In virtually every instance someone uses the "Never ascribe to malice..." line, they are exposing themselves as unethical.
In ethics there is a concept known as "conflict of interest". In almost every instance where someone trots out the line "Never ascribe to malice..." they are responding to a question about someone's potential conflict of interest.
Especially when those in position of trust and authority are involved in improper decisions, it is unethical to trot out the "Never ascribe to malice..." line. Their position of trust and authority obligates them, and their would-be defenders to being open to additional scrutiny as to potential conflicts of interest.

--
Seastead this.
1. Re:Ethics by QRDeNameland · 2013-10-09 11:39 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  To further bolster your point, in cases of conflict of interest, it is not simply about whether there is actual corruption, but also whether there is the appearance of or the potential for corruption...the reason being that even if there is no actual malice going on, any potential conflict of interest will allow people to assume there *is* malfeasance happening, which will erode trust in the institution in question. Thus "never ascribe to malice..." is quite beside the point in such cases...if there's any question that there could be malice, you already have a problem.
  
  --
  Momentarily, the need for the construction of new light will no longer exist.
Re:the oracle at... by loufoque · 2013-10-09 10:05 · Score: 2

If you're teaching Java, you're irrelevant to the industry.
The only language that has passed the test of time and that will always be relevant and a worthy language to master is C.
Microsoft Education© by codeusirae · 2013-10-09 13:08 · Score: 3, Interesting

"When Samsung packaged a solar-powered classroom for Africa’s remote communities, it shipped a GNU/Linux solution but M$ intervened"

"Working together with Reza Bardien, our Education Lead, we managed to turn this into an end to end Windows solution by the end of the week"

- quote -
Solar Powered Schools – Linux Win

In the week of 16 January, Samsung Africa launched its first Solar Powered Internet Schools. These 40 ft solar powered containers are designed for use in remote rural education communities with limited, or no access to electricity. This is a world first and shows great innovation from our partners.

However, this solution with little education relevance (all 20 student laptops as well as the teacher one) was a complete Linex solution at the time of launch. Working together with Reza Bardien, our Education Lead, we managed to turn this into an end to end Windows solution by the end of the week, including the PIL Learning Suite and the Windows-based NETOP Classroom Management solution.

By Friday morning, when Samsung demonstrated its solution to press and stakeholders, the solution was based on a Microsoft platform. This container (and the next 10 containers going into Africa and South Africa) will include devices running on a Microsoft platform only, so the students learning on these devices will be running and learning on Windows.

Some great cross group collaboration between the Windows BG, the Education Public Sector, NETOP and Jacques from OEM who assisted.

Thank you all!
- unquote -
Incompetence is used to mask greed/self interest by coder111 · 2013-10-09 18:54 · Score: 2

It's the way of higher management. If it succeeds- it happened due to my leadership. If it fails- it failed due to incompetent workers, incompetent committees, incompetent scapegoats, sub-optimal company structure, etc. Incompetence is easier to forgive than greed-driven risk-taking or things designed to fail after they have enriched you.

--Coder