THE Government, through the Education Ministry, is currently conducting a feasibility study on the use of open source technology at the school level. Sources close to the initiative said a committee comprising key personnel and decision makers in the Ministry has been set up to undertake this responsibility to carry out the study.

It is understood that the feasibility study will be an ongoing effort and a deadline has yet been set for the use of open source in schools.

According to the sources, the move by the Government is prompted by the promise of open source technology to bring down the total cost of ownership for software applications.

Energy, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Amar Leo Moggie was quoted earlier this year as saying that the Government is willing to test application developed on open source technology in areas such as education.

This is in line with efforts to seek for cost-effective alternatives to existing information and communications technology (ICT) systems, he added.

As part of the feasibility study, the Education Ministry organised last week a two-day workshop in Perak which was attended by its offices as well as those from relevant Government agencies.

During the workshop, several brainstorming sessions were held to garner ideas and discuss issues pertaining to introducing open source technology at the school level. It is understood that feedback from the workshop will be compiled and used as the basis for recommendations that will assist in the Ministry’s decision on the matter at a later date.

At part of the workshop’s programme, attendees also made a visit to Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Dindings, a school in Pundut , to look into how its management successfully turned the school into an ICT-enabled learning environment.

It is learnt that the school is currently “experimenting” with open source technology.

The Ministry, according to sources, is also aware of efforts by other schools in the country that are “testing” the technology.

The open source movement has gained momentum in the local ICT fraternity after the Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry Malaysia (Pikom) in April presented a paper to the Government which calls for the adoption of an open source policy.