-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [FSFTN] Microsoft & Tamil Nadu Government agreed to work together Date: Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:38:11 -0600 From: Alagunambi Welkin <alagunambiwel...@fsftn.org> To: <mailingl...@fsftn.org> Reply-To: mailingl...@fsftn.org
Dear Friends, Microsoft International President Jean Philippe Courtois met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on the 6th March 2012 to discuss on improving (or so they say!) the education and IT sector of Tamil Nadu, and agreed to work together. Press Release: http://www.tn.gov.in/seithi_veliyeedu/pr06Mar12/pr060312_184.pdf Even as a neighbouring State like Kerala where 'Free Software' is being used as a medium to promote self-sufficiency and initiative in learning among students thus helping them gain an edge in the competitive world, the Tamil Nadu government in the name of'improving' the education system has decided to further the use of proprietary software. This will directly result in yet another generation of software students being subject to a mechanical system of education which will result in them becoming non-qualified workers in an industry that is entering to a phase of crisis. This is at a time when a study has said students from Tamil Nadu are the the least employable in India. This current situation is where IT industries are keen on Arts & Sciences students than engineering students is a direct result of an education system where the engineers are 'taught' and 'trained' to be mere users of proprietary software rather than 'engineers'. Today, families are forced to spend lakhs of rupees in the dream of a high salary of children, out of which almost 40% of the money goes for licensing fees in colleges. Despite all this money spent, the student is unable to compete in the job market and forced to take extra courses to enter the job market by spending at least few ten thousands. This decision made at the top is a direct challenge to all those who want to see the improvement to the situation in the education system of Tamil Nadu. When there is a conscious effort against the people's interest, it is up to us to take a stand and work for what we deserve – an education system based on free software. The first step is to spread awareness of the use and relevance of free software and the dangerous implications of such a move. We invite you to join us in this campaign and join hands against this development. -- Alagunambi Welkin Executive Committee Member, Free Software Foundation, Tamil Nadu, part of Free Software Movement of India. http://www.fsftn.org _______________________________________________ Mailinglist mailing list mailingl...@fsftn.org http://fsftn.org/mailman/listinfo/mailinglist_fsftn.org _______________________________________________ ILUGC Mailing List: http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc
