I saw this article on how Russia is installing Linux in all its schools on Digg, with over 500 diggs. Nice article that shows how Linux is really expanding worldwide.

Russia installs Linux in all schools !

That's pretty cool - I have moved this to Linux-News

I cant wait till that happens in the States...

Yes, that IS cool! Go Russia!

But this can bring big challenge to the teacher.

This is the best news I have heard!Bravo Russia!

I have merged this into http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...chools-586801/ as they are both about the same thing.

I wouldn't take it for certain..I mean that Russia is quite a large country, and it has quite a lot of schools I can imagine. It's pretty probable that not every school just jumps into using Linux, even if many of the would. Definitely a cool idea, but don't get too excited

As for the USA..I don't think it's realistic they'd do the same, put Linux onto most of their schools..I think a few companies have too strong touch in the market for that to happen in the close future.

I wouldn't be surprised if the news told Russia put Macs in their every school. And I wouldn't either be surprised if Apple wouldn't know about that.

Here in NZ there are rumours of at least a switch to OpenOffice.org since the govt. is getting sick of paying for liscences instead of products.

That way the Russian leaders can control just what software the schools use.

One repository for all.

Has a faint smell of things bygone.

lol
- assuming you are joking, otherwise make that an 'OMG!'

Always two sides to every "discussion". The BBC article itself poisons the field by suggesting a political aspect. (not wanting to be locked into western software...). So, next maybe Generic Popov will develop intelrus and rusamd chips.

The article clearly says that there is a trial period of three years. After which, the schools will have to decide whether to go open source or pay installation and renewal tax. So all's not lost for Microsoft yet. They can do what they do in other countries which is a few things.

(1) Have tie ups with other schools / institutions to and give them microsoft products practically free.

(2) Condone piracy till it suis them.

End

You know, installing GNU/Linux in many and not in every school is just enough. Just think about the result of it.
-Children in schools are using the GNU/Linux operating system with all of its applications.
-They get exercises and homeworks on this OS.
-Maybe some children's first computer experience will be with this OS.
This all means, that many (not every I think) children will try Linux at home too. Shortly: not only at schools will rise the Linux usage, but possibly at russian homes too. This is good, because more and more people will start to see an alternative to Windoze.

It's not relevant to Russia, but in the context of "School linuxization", it's more than 2 years already as trainings for school teachers are conducted in Georgia in order to teach them linux basics. The Government intends to supply public schools with linux powered PCs and open source soft. This effort is a part of the project called "Deer Leap" (Milky Way. In Georgian we call it Deer Leap).
I think Ministry of Education has already decided that OS will be Ubuntu or some derivative of it.

p.s. The project is assisted by eRiders.ge, which is a member of eRiders.net.
Their server became one of the official mirrors for Ubuntu