Red Hat to introduce Linux in Goa schools

Chitra Padmanabhan/Mumbai

Red Hat India has offered to provide open source platform built on Linux as the standard operating system for schools in Goa. Under this programme teachers and volunteers will be provided free training by Red Hat, which will in turn be beneficial to a large number of students and lead to speedy computerisation in the schools.

The project is carried out by Red Hat in association with the Goa Schools Computer Project, which is a coalition of educationists and concerned citizens who feel the need to speed up the pace of computer education in this state.

“The project will prove to be highly economical because organisations can do away with upgradation costs and issues regarding piracy of software. Our long-term goal is to create a culture of freeware, which in turn helps in doing away with rampant piracy. Linux as an operating system does not need upgradation and can be used even in old model PCs like 486 etc,” says Shankar Iyer, training manager, Red Hat India. He adds, “Moreover Linux provides best security networking. We have targeted students of class five and above because we are looking for a change in the mindset in terms of long-term usage of Linux.”

What makes this project different is that it is based on Linux, which seeks to make the software industry “open”. The concept of open source and its advantages of having the source code in hand will be of great advantage for children. Schools and parents will not be burdened with high investments, at regular intervals. Red Hat will run Linux on nearly 360 computers across schools in Goa.

“In a few weeks time, volunteers are to get training in a project that could meet the software needs of schools for a long time to come. Young Linux enthusiasts and volunteers, including some engineering students will be trained in installing and using the OS. Red Hat intends to constantly train teachers in using this decade-old operating system, which is now making a dent across the globe,” says Shankar.

If this project takes off well in Goa, it will be replicated in other places across India, considered by some as a software superpower in the making but which ironically cannot afford prices of ‘legal’ proprietary software for its schools.