Why isn't Linux in more public schools.

[Robtygart]

Linux is getting really easy to use and to manage. Why isn't there more public schools using Ubuntu/Kubuntu

Are schools getting FREE Microsoft Operating Systems?

[dmeyer]

Microsoft usually offers really cheap deals to schools at first. They provide support, infrastructure and just an all round good deal, however, after 5 years when the contract comes up for renewal then *BAM* they hit them with super expensive packages. The problem is, switching all the systems + infrastructure to linux is now more expensive than just renewing the rip-off contracts.

Brazil uses Kubuntu in its schools, Turkey uses Pardus in universities, many universities run openSUSE or Fedora, South Africa had a roll out of SUSE-something. In China all the schools/government agencies and many businesses run Linux. Its catching on but it isn't mainstream yet. Give it some time.

Also there is bureaucratic crap. Most (not all) educators and administrators (all of them) are idiots or just ignorant. They refuse to change their ways or look at things objectively.

By the way, when it comes to schools/universities, I have always noticed that openSUSE sort of rules supreme. Maybe its Yast? Kubuntu is huge in Brazil though. Linux is taking off, but it will take a long time before its universal.

[benny_fletch]

...The problem is, switching all the systems + infrastructure to linux is now more expensive than just renewing the rip-off contracts.
...
Also there is bureaucratic crap. Most (not all) educators and administrators (all of them) are idiots or just ignorant. They refuse to change their ways or look at things objectively. ...

Those are differently two of the biggest issues on why Windows is still so big in schools. Another one is the fact that you would have to find a completely different group of techs and administrators because a majority of their current ones only know how to support Windows or gained a certification for MS products. This too would set them back a bit and not just financially. Also, this might just be an extension of what dmeyer was trying to point out in the above second quote.

[Arran]

Bad example: in Freiburg (south west Germany, 230'000 population) the teachers and IT employees with the help of a external consultancy have have just managed to convince the local executive to switch back to MS Office 2010 instead of an older OpenOffice 2.x? This consultancy has not even valuated the possibility to use the new OO. I think MS has paid the consultants quite a large sum in Backshish (oriental for bribery). However there is a slight chance, as the local parliament has a possibility to save their own decision to change to OpenSource. So keep fingers crossed, next week is decision time.
Good example: Munich is continuing with their poject to imply Ubunut completing it early 2013. There the staff and IT personnel have been much opener and they even offer software for use for communities. Free, of course.