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Subject: |
[centres] Overpriced, overhyped, over here (Microsoft/Becta deal - for comment) |
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Date: |
Mon, 05 Jan 2004 12:06:38 +0000 |
** Low Priority **
Margaret Thatcher famously expanded the number of 'quangos' (quasi-autonomous
non-governmental organisations), outfits financed by government with members
appointed by government but acting independently of it. New Labour goes in for
something called 'agencies', which are like quangos but without even nominal
independence of their paymasters. Let us call them equangos, with the 'e'
standing for 'emasculated'.
Becta (the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency) is an
equango. It describes itself as 'the Government's lead agency for ICT
[information and communication technology] in education'. Becta's 'unique
contribution', according to its website, 'is to combine knowledge of the needs
of education with an understanding of the power of technology'. It was recently
instructed by the Education Secretary 'to develop its high level strategic
relationships with national and international organisations'.
The resulting pursuit of 'high-level strategic relationships' led Becta
straight to Microsoft, a noted US monopolist and purveyor of bloated, insecure,
overpriced software to saps. On Thursday, the first fruits of this strategic
relationship were unveiled. Becta announced that it has signed a 'Memorandum of
Understanding' with Microsoft which establishes significant savings to schools
in England choosing to license Microsoft software. The agreement also extends
to schools in Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland.
Becta estimates that total savings to schools in England as a result of this
deal will reach £46 million over three years. 'Depending on the mix of products
purchased,' the press release burbles, 'schools should be spending between 20
and 37 per cent less than might have been expected in the absence of the Becta
Microsoft Memorandum of Understanding.'
So that's all right then? Er, not quite. What the deal means, in essence, is
that British schools will pay less for software that was ludicrously overpriced
in the first place, and which imposes all kinds of hidden costs in the form of
expensive hardware, mandatory Windows licences (which account for up to a fifth
of the cost of an average PC) and expensive technical support. The truth is
that Microsoft could give away its applications software and still make
exorbitant profits.
You think I jest? Well, take a look at the company's most recent results. These
show that Windows generated a profit of $2,264m on costs of just $545m. In
other words, of Microsoft's $2,809 million turnover on Windows, 81 per cent is
pure profit. And even on the Office suite (the prime subject of the Becta
deal), Microsoft made $1,591m profit on costs of $696m - a profit margin of 69
per cent.
All of which helps to put Becta's little bargain in its proper context. More
significant however, is how the equango reconciles its agreement with Microsoft
with its other obligations. Becta's stated aims are to: 'Improve learning and
teaching through the effective and embedded use of ICT; increase the number of
educational organisations making effective, innovative and sustainable use of
ICT; improve the availability and use of high quality educational content; and
develop a coherent, sustainable and dependable ICT infrastructure for
education.'
The Microsoft deal undermines every one of these aspirations because it
encourages the brain-dead myth that ICT equals Word/Excel/PowerPoint. One of
the problems with ICT teaching in British schools is its obsession with
training kids to use Microsoft packages rather than exploring the revolutionary
potential of computers for learning and living. Every time I ask a tech-savvy
boy or girl about their experiences of ICT at school, I hear derisive accounts
of unimaginative drudgery involving Excel, Word or PowerPoint and little, if
anything, about what kids really enjoy using computers for - email, online
chat, instant messaging, CD ripping, file-sharing, digital photography, video
editing, internet radio, online gaming, web browsing and so on. This is a
dangerous and growing credibility gap and no amount of cheap software from
Microsoft will close it.
John Naughton
Sunday December 7, 2003
The Observer
http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/comment/story/0,9828,1101447,00.html
address@hidden
E-Learning Resource Developer
Click! Sandwell
Sandwell Council House, Freeth Street
Oldbury, B69 3BS
Tel. 0121 569 2415
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