Yes, it seems crazy that we are not using open source software more in education from nursery right though to university. Open source software actually allows students to learn from the code and use it many different ways that proprietary software does not allow. Proprietary software actively discourages learning.

It should not require a change of government to have a better policy on open source any government should be able to see the benefits.

Interesting. You ought to look at govt agencies as well.

I was at the IT steering committee meeting of my local FE college. In attendance was the IT manager for the local council. When I asked him about the use of OS software he said that Microsoft was mandated by the LGA – i.e. local authorities had to use it.

Also the senior lecturer on the app development degree said they couldn’t effectively teach Linux or the use of OS tools as part of the course because the IT support group at the college would only support Microsoft applications and servers. They therefore couldn’t get any budget approval to install any OS software or servers for teaching.

I was gobsmacked.