Milind, Congrats on your excellent follow-up. Every small victory matters. It is unfortunate that the people in government don't really care. Let us know what help you need from the community.
> > On 27 may 2016, Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary > Education has given a reply to my notice. Maharashtra State Board was > neglecting Open Source directives given by MHRD. Though the Circular in this > regard was issued, it was published in the education booklet "Shikshan > Sankraman" !. The circular as Important as this, which could have saved huge > amounts for Schools, must have been given to Schools directly and it must > have been given wide publicity in major news papers. > > The Board's claim that by putting a note - "Schools and Colleges can use Open > Source Software" on index page, they have followed directions given by MHRD > is ridiculous. In the remaining pages of the reply, Board has given > photocopies copies of the changes they have made in 2016-17 text books to be > printed soon, and they have clarified further that Open Source can be used in > "Theory as well as in Practicals" which is very important. > > Note that MHRD has used the word "PREFER" while Board is cleverly using "CAN" > ! > > Anyway, I assume that this is only a symbolic exit of Microsoft from State's > Schools Education. > > This covers State Schools and Junior Colleges in Maharashtra. But University > Education too is compelling degree colleges to use proprietary software. > Situation is somewhat better in Engineering courses but in the courses such > as Computer Applications (TYBcom), there are softwares like MS Excel and > Visual Basic. Also there are direct questions in the examination on the > commands used in Excel and VB. I am going to send similar letter to Mumbai > University too. > > Also the course MS-ACIT has been made mandatory for teachers. This course is > exclusively an advertisement of Microsoft and other other proprietary > software. Since after removing proprietary software from school. This course, > which itself is a violation of MHRD notification, becomes meaningless for > teachers. Hence appropriate changes are necessary in this course curriculum. > We have to follow this matter in Education Department. > > I request all to help Schools in Maharashtra aware of the purpose and > significance of this change and make open source movement stronger. Otherwise > it will remain only on paper. > > http://www.mediafire.com/view/seufdy593ocbaiu/Notice_To_SSC-HSC_Board.jpg > http://www.mediafire.com/view/uccych8u0hnqt6g/Notice_To_SSC-HSC_Board_%28Reply%29.jpg > http://www.mediafire.com/download/nouxfd9a1hxnwd4/MHRD_-_Remove_Microsoft.pdf > -- http://mm.ilug-bom.org.in/mailman/listinfo/linuxers
