# Open Source to UK schools?

Canonical page: https://dominiklukes.net/writing/2007-10-30-open-source-to-uk-schools

The note argues that open-source software could give UK schools more flexible alternatives to exclusive licensing agreements.

Essay · dominiklukes.net (2005–2009) · 30 October 2007

Published on dominiklukes.net (2005–2009), 30 October 2007. Text as published.

The BBC reports on Becta's warning for schools not to sign licencing deals that exclude other software. Hopefully, this will mean more Open Source software at Schools. Particularly given the great advances of consumer friendly distributions of Linux such as [Ubuntu](https://ubuntu.com/). I predict that in 5 years the hold Microsoft products have over education will have been significantly loosened given the significantly more flexible development cycle of Open Source projects. Also, the philosophy behind open source is much closer to the democratic ethos of educational institutions (see [this radio interview](https://futurefmtechtalk.podbean.com/2007/10/08/free-and-open-source-software) for details).

> [Schools warned off Microsoft deal](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7063716.stm) The UK computer agency Becta is advising schools not to sign licensing agreements with Microsoft because of alleged anti-competitive practices.

- [Philosophy of Education Seminar Programme](http://research.edu.uea.ac.uk/philosophyofeducationseminarprogramme)

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## About this item

- Type: Essay
- Published: 30 October 2007
- Published in: dominiklukes.net (2005–2009)
- Language: English

Topics: [Open education and open source](https://dominiklukes.net/topics/open-education).

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