It is reported that 9000 PCs in Swiss schools will have Windows removed and become FOSS only computers.
Geneva newspaper Tribune de Geneve reports today that from September 2008 all computers at schools that currently are dual-boot MS Windows and Linux will have MS Windows removed and become FOSS (Free Open Source Software) only.
Besides lower costs for the administration, students will also profit from the use of Ubuntu, as they then will be able to use the same applications at home without additional cost.
Manuel Grandjean, director for the schools (Ecoles-Médias) IT services pointed out that the use of FOSS “…encourages participation and the democratization of knowledge and provides product independent competences…“. He also sees the use of FOSS as a “reinforcement of equal opportunities†for students.
More information here (French only).
I never thought about the fact that school/home computers could be running the same software *freely*. I love Ubuntu, but still have problems with wireless on my laptops. Even though my main laptop is “running” Vista, the rest of the apps are FOSS (Google Docs/Open Office, Pidgin, Audacity, Gimp, etc). I imagine going 100% FOSS would require more time/work from the computer teachers, though…
:)