TECHNOLOGY-CUBA:
University Opens Doors
to Free Software
By Patricia Grogg
HAVANA (IPS) -
After years of
deliberation, the
University of Havana has
finally decided to
switch over to free
software on its network
of computers, virtually
all of which are running
the Windows operating
system, produced by
United States software
giant Microsoft.
The plan, approved by
the University Council,
envisages intensive
training of professors
and computer personnel
this year, followed in
2009 by the broad
installation of the
GNU/Linux operating
system, which uses the
Linux kernel created by
Linus Torvalds of
Finland in 1991.
"It’s a plan for the
long term," Yudivián
Almeida, a professor in
the mathematics and
computer science
department of the
University of Havana,
told IPS. "It’s an
attempt to minimise
conflict and avoid
abrupt changes, such as
removing Windows and
installing Linux."
In fact, the changeover
strategy is made up of
several stages, from
installing specific
programmes like the
browser Mozilla Firefox
to replace the widely
used Internet Explorer,
which began Jan. 5, to
training operators to
use OpenOffice instead
of Microsoft Office,
until patented software
is finally dropped.
According to U.S.
software developer and
activist Richard
Stallman, the founder of
the free software
movement and the creator
of the General Public
License (GPL), a free
programme must comply
with four freedoms: the
freedom to run the
programme for any
purpose; the freedom to
study how the programme
works and adapt it to
your needs; the freedom
to redistribute copies
so you can help others;
and the freedom to
improve the programme
and release your
improvements to the
public, so that the
whole community
benefits.
Almeida said it was
logical to start with
those who teach computer
science, and computer
laboratory staff,
"because they are the
most resistant to
change." Students, in
contrast, have to accept
the contents of each
subject as laid down in
the course plan.
"Computer course
curriculums need to be
revised, as at present
they are mostly taught
using Windows," said
Almeida, who coordinates
the Free Software and
Linux User Group at the
University of Havana,
where several
departments are changing
their course plans after
the changeover to free
software was approved on
Jan. 5.
"When free software has
been installed on all of
the university’s
computers, it will make
no sense to teach using
anything else," he
concluded.
Cuba announced its
intention to switch over
to free software in May
2005, beginning with the
government’s central
administration offices.
However, so far only the
customs service has
adopted GNU/Linux on all
of its computers.
A national working group
was formed to promote
the shift, including
representatives of the
ministries of education,
justice, the interior,
higher education and the
armed forces, as well as
the customs service, the
Office for Computerising
Cuban Society, the
Computer Sciences
University (UCI), the
University of Havana and
the José A. Echeverría
Institute.
"The national group
makes suggestions, but
there is no legislation
to enforce the
changeover," said
Almeida.
On Apr. 10, he posted on
his personal web site a
decree by Ecuadorean
President Rafael Correa
on shifting to free
software in that
country’s central public
administration offices.
The purpose of the move
is to "attain
sovereignty and
technological autonomy,"
as recommended by the
Ibero-American Charter
on Electronic
Government, approved by
the Ninth Ibero-American
Conference of Ministers
for Public
Administration and State
Reform, held in Chile in
June 2007.
Winning acceptance of
free software has not
been easy at the
University of Havana,
where courses of study
in social sciences and
other subjects take
precedence over the new
information and
communication
technologies, said the
27-year-old Almeida.
"University professors
have been the most
reluctant to change,
because they have become
proficient in the use of
certain patented
software instruments,"
said Almeida, who has a
degree in computer
sciences.
According to Almeida,
those who oppose the
change claim that free
software is of lower
quality than commercial
programmes like Windows,
an argument that is
often hard to settle,
while they overlook
other aspects such as
technological
sovereignty.
The overwhelming
majority of the
approximately 380,000
computers in Cuba run on
illegal copies of the
Windows operating system
and use pirated versions
of programmes, for which
no license fees are
paid, because of the
four-decade U.S. embargo
against the island.
According to a survey on
access to selected
information and
communication services
carried out by the state
National Statistics
Office (ONE), 33 percent
of Cubans over six used
a computer at least once
during 2007.
The study found that
computers were most
frequently used in post
offices and centres
called Youth Computer
and Electronics Clubs,
organised by the Young
Communist League to
spread knowledge of new
technology. Computer
access in the home only
accounted for 5.2
percent of the total.
In Almeida’s view, free
software would end the
University of Havana’s
dependence on programmes
for which unaffordable
sums in license fees
would become payable if
relations with
Washington are
normalised in future. In
addition, it would
promote the
socialisation of
knowledge, one of the
basic goals of higher
education in Cuba.
"This issue had been
discussed for a long
time without any
decision being reached,"
said Almeida. "The start
of the plan is quite a
significant step
forward."
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