Thiruvananthapuram: The state general education sector has completed its migration to free and open software with the decision of the state curriculum committee to implement free and open source software (FOSS) in the higher secondary section. Free software applications such as GNUKhata will replace the proprietary Tally software. The licence fees for the proprietary version of this software is Rs 1,50,000 per machine, Mr K. Anvar Sadath, executive director of IT@School project told Deccan Chronicle. Hence, the minimum savings in a year is Rs 300 crore as 20,000 machines are used in schools, Mr Sadath said. The decision to implement FOSS was taken by the state curriculum committee chaired by Education Minister C.Ravindranath.
Adhering to the directions of the state government, the computer science and humanities sections in the higher secondary had shifted to free software. However; for the commerce section in higher secondary for the computerised accounting system paper, the Tally package was in use, which is operational only on a Microsoft Windows platform. This often resulted in the deployment of pirated software in schools creating a cyber security threat. Several complaints were reported on this aspect, Mr Sadath said.
The IT@School GNU/Linux operating system based on Ubuntu is pre-loaded in all laptops and desktops for the schools. Beyond normal operating system functions, this is an integrated package that contains applications like office packages, database applications, DTP, graphics and imaging software, sound recording, video editing, animation packages, integrated development environment (IDEs) for programming, web server & database server, geographical information system (GIS) etc. This also contains educational software like Geogebra, Phet, Stellarium, Kalzium, Marble, Razmol, Gplates, Gcomprise, Pysio Game, Dr Geo and Celestia said Mr Sadath.
The shift to free software is planned to be implemented without making any changes in the critical structure of NCERT syllabus, but by incorporating changes in the software which is being used. Accordingly, the revised textbook would include free software applications such as GNUKhata which would replace the proprietary Tally software, Libre Office Calc and Base which replaces Microsoft Excel and Access applications, Mr Sadath said.
