=概述=

果阿学校计算机工程（the Goa Schools Computer Project, GSCP）是印度果阿邦的一项旨在为邦内初中和高中提供经济可行的计算机实验室的计划。第一个试点工程在2000年启动，经评估后，较大规模的二期工程在2002年启动。

GSCP 是公共、私人单位和非政府组织的一项联合计划。计划的成功是果阿教育部、Red Hat Linux、果阿学校计算机计划非政府组织和果阿 Sudharop 社区开发慈善组织共同努力的结果。通过使用回收利用的计算机和自由／开源的 GNU/Linux 系统，总共125所学校得到了计算机系统。

=动机=

成本是使用 GNU/Linux 系统的主要推动因素，特别是私有软件的授权成本。因为工程一开始就决定使用回收的计算机（同样是出于成本考虑），找到适合这些系统使用的软件成为一个关键问题。捐赠计算机的机构处于安全考虑，一般都已经清空了这些系统的硬盘。购买软件将使使用这些计算机的成本增加数倍。

通过使用回收的计算机和 GNU/Linux 系统组合，GSCP 能以每套系统仅35美元的成本安装软件，而包括网络在内的整个计算机实验室只需不到500美元。相比之下，仅仅用于一台计算机的私有软件就需要至少400-500美元，是计算机本身成本的许多倍。

工程进行了全面的成本估算。根据印度其他各邦（Andhra Pradesh，Karnataka，Tamil Nadu 和喀拉拉邦）过去这类工程的数据，估计 GNU/Linux 和回收的硬件比传统的解决方案（使用新硬件和私有软件）节省了77％的费用。而在新硬件上使用 GNU/Linux 也能比私有软件／新硬件模式节省64％的费用。

=实施方式=

GSCP 使用了来自较富有和发达的国家的经过翻新的计算机。这些计算机一般都是公司升级换代过程中淘汰的型号。在必要的测试和组装后，这些计算机安装了 GNU/Linux 操作系统。较大规模的安装（拥有超过4台计算机的实验室）使用了瘦客户机模式的 GNU/Linux。

每个计算机实验室通常都是 GSCP 和当地学校合作的结果。GSCP 提供设备并培训教师，而学校提供实验室的不间断电源、线缆和家具。建成以后，实验室在工作时间提供学校使用，下班后则由当地社区自由使用。

=结果=

计算机交付使用后一年进行的一项调查显示90％的计算机已经到位，76％的计算机仍可使用。那些获得了超过4台计算机并使用瘦客户机模式的学校成效最为显著。城区的学校一般比郊区的学校效果更好，其一系列原因包括更好的支持和（由于较多的学生数量而安排的）较多可用的计算机。

这些学校目前对每个学生收取20派士用于支付维护和连接因特网的费用。收取社区的上机和上网费用的试点实验也在进行。其他国家类似项目的实验证明这是可行的，因此这一计划在果阿也有望成功。

1. GSCP 网站; http://www.gscp.org/; Internet; 访问于2003年11月7日.
2. Martyris, Daryl, `Community - Government partnerships and open source
technology for low cost IT access in India - A case study', July 2003; available from
http://www.developmentgateway.com/node/133831/sdm/blob?pid=5474; Internet;
accessed on November 7, 2003.
3. Noronha, Frederick, `Linux provides cheaper alternatives for schools in India', 9
January 2002, Newsforge.com; available from http://newsforge.com/
article.pl?sid=02/01/09/1252220&mode=thread&tid=23; Internet; accessed on
November 7, 2003.

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Introduction

The Goa Schools Computer Project (GSCP) was launched in the Indian state of Goa to provide affordable computer labs to secondary and higher secondary schools in the state. The first pilot projects were launched in 2000 and after evaluation a second, larger project was launched in 2002.

The GSCP is a collaboration involving public, private and NGO organizations. The Goa Department of Education, Red Hat Linux, the Goa Computers in Schools Project NGO and the Goa Sudharop Community Development Charity all contributed to making this project a success. Using recycled computers and the FOSS GNU/Linux system, a total of 125 schools received computers that otherwise would not have been available to them.

Motivation

Cost was a primary motive for using the GNU/Linux system, particularly the licensing cost of proprietary software. Because the project decided from the start to recycle computers (also for cost reasons), finding software to place on these systems became a major issue. These systems were typically received with blank hard drives, due to concerns over security of the organizations donating the computers. Purchasing software to run on these systems would have multiplied the costs of using these computers manyfold.

By going with the recycled computer/GNU/Linux combination, the GSCP was able to install systems for as little as US$35 per system, with full computer labs, including networking, costing less than US$500. Proprietary software for a single computer would have cost at least US$400–500, many times the cost of the computer itself.

A comprehensive costing was performed for this project. Based on data from previous projects in other Indian states (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala), it was estimated that the GNU/Linux/recyled hardware model would save as much as 77 percent of a traditional solution (proprietary software, new hardware). Combining GNU/Linux with new hardware would have saved 64 percent of the costs of the proprietary software/new hardware model.

Implementation approach

The GSCP used refurbished computers imported from wealthier, more developed nations. These computers were typically outdated models, replaced in regular corporate upgrade cycles. After testing and refitting as necessary, the computers were installed with the GNU/Linux operating system. The larger installations (labs with more than four computers) used GNU/Linux in a thin-client configuration.
Each computer lab was typically a cooperative effort between GSCP and the local school. GSCP would supply the equipment and teacher training while the school would supply the UPS, wiring and furniture for the computer lab. Once set up, the computer lab would be used by the schools during school hours and by the community at large after hours.

Results

A survey carried out one year after the computers were shipped found that 90 percent of the PCs had been installed and 76 percent of the PCs were operational. Schools using the thin-client model, which were also the schools that received four or more PCs, fared best. Urban schools fared better than rural schools for a variety of reasons, including better support and a larger number of available computers (due to larger student populations).

The schools are now charging 20 cents per student to pay for maintenance and Internet access costs. Pilot experiments are also underway to test the sustainability of charging the community for after-hours access to the computing facilities and the Internet. Experiences from projects in other countries have shown this to be feasible and it is hoped that it will be just as successful in Goa.

For further reading:

1.The Goa Schools Computer Project website; available from http://www.gscp.org/; Internet; accessed on November 7, 2003.
2.Martyris, Daryl, ‘Community – Government partnerships and open source technology for low cost IT access in India – A case study’, July 2003; available from http://www.developmentgateway.com/node/133831/sdm/blob?pid=5474; Internet; accessed on November 7, 2003.
3.Noronha, Frederick, ‘Linux provides cheaper alternatives for schools in India’, 9 January 2002, Newsforge.com; available from http://newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=02/01/09/1252220&mode=thread&tid=23; Internet; accessed on November 7, 2003.