LinuxWorld: French schools using Linux – More than 350 schools access the Internet using Linux and OSS

“Linux aficionados often see themselves as evangelists: not
converting the masses to Linux exclusively, but to the entire open
source movement and, more importantly, to the concept of freedom of
choice.”

“One such activist spoke with LinuxWorld.com at the recent Linux
Expo Paris. Jean-Pierre Archambault is an official of the Centre
National de Documentation Pedagogique (CNDP), a governmental agency
under the authority of the French Minister of Education. The CNDP
is a network of national, regional, and departmental centers
dedicated to publishing, identifying resources, and developing the
use of ICT (information and communications technology) in
schools.”

“Archambault said the French Linux movement in education helps
prevent software monopoly from blocking more important goals.
“Actually, the CNDP never tried to overturn MS or any other
monopoly,” Archambault said. “But it considered that monopoly by
itself is an issue in terms of education. Instead, the CNDP tried
to foster cultural pluralism and freedom of choice. That is the
reason why CNDP’s efforts were mainly targeted towards users
information and demonstration of alternative existing choices.”

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