The Shuttleworth Foundation today launched its second Open Source Learning Centre at a Cape primary school.
Together with the first centre at Nooitgedacht Primary School in Bishop Lavis, opened earlier this year, the new lab at Hydepark Primary School in Grassypark will serve as a pilot project for the roll-out of other open source-based computer centres in the region.
The foundation aims to establish up to 80 more computer labs in the Western Cape in the next two years.
"The launch of this new computer lab is significant as it proves the possibility of incorporating an existing network of old computers into a fresh new Linux lab," says Thomas Black, the foundation's open source programme manager.
"With schools out there feeling that their equipment is too old to use and needs to be thrown out, this project now provides them with the proof that their equipment can still be of use by converting it to Linux."
The Hydepark Primary School had a small Microsoft Windows-base network consisting of 15 computers. The Shuttleworth Foundation donated an additional 20 thin-client machines and merged these with the existing network.
All the existing machines were also modified so they could operate in thin-client configuration.
Skills transfer was also an important issue. The foundation will continue making support available in the immediate future, but the school is in the process of transferring Linux administration skills to a computer facilitator for a more permanent solution.
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