The Russian government wants education to switch completely to open source software within three years. Schools that don’t want to have to pay for the license costs for commercial packages themselves.
In February 2007, the Center of Free Technology began field trials to see if open source software and Linux systems met the specific needs and requirements of education. The pilot was co-organized by Aleksandr Ponosov. This ex-teacher was charged in 2006 for allegedly using unlicensed Windows and Office versions at his school. It later turned out that the software had been installed by the supplier. Ponosov eventually only had to pay a small fine, but in the meantime rose to national fame and became a champion of open source software.
Now that the trials seem to have been successful, Moscow has decided to exchange all commercial software in education for open source alternatives. reports Computer World UK. Schools or universities that nevertheless want or have to use commercial packages will have to pay for the costs themselves. The decision to switch to Linux and other open software could give the further development of Microsoft alternatives in Russia, but also internationally, a significant boost. By 2010, an estimated one million computers will be in use in Russian education.