Khmer Software Initiative

In April 2002, the Extramadura Ministry of Education, Science and Technology initiated a project to convert computer systems from proprietary systems to OSS which include the creation of their own OSS distribution called GNU/LinEx. According to Luis Millán Vázquez de Miguel, Minister of Education, Science and Technology, “We chose OSS for two reasons: first of all, because we cannot afford paying for 100,000 licenses. We have saved 30 millions Euro alone in licenses. Secondly, because of safety reasons. We cannot carry out such a huge project and not have access to the codes, we cannot depend on a single company either. Using OSS, we update everything we need when we need it”. Project goal is to support the Red Tecnológica Educativa (Educational Technology Network) for providing one computer for every six primary students and one for each secondary student in the region. A secondary school history teacher in Calamonte said “From the educational point of view, there is no difference between GNU/LinEx and Windows. Students need transparent software. They use the computer to make a task and do not worry who is the proprietary of the license”.

Under their Digital Literacy Plan, Nuevos Centros del Conocimiento (New Knowledge Centres) computers are placed in 33 communities. Over 30,000 citizens have taken advantage of the program. Economic and social goals are being met by distributing OSS through the Plan de Alfabetización Tecnológica (Technology Literacy Plan), to small businesses and the regional government administration. The Vivernet program helps new businesses by providing young entrepreneurs with access to ICT resources. Vivernet has two Centres (in Cáceres and in Badajoz) and has more than 4000 users and over 38 businesses participate.