Using Open Source Software in Education in Developing Countries: The Sudan as an Example

Recently, the demand for education in the developing countries at all levels has witnessed an exponential growth. Despite the difficulties and hurdles facing learners, we find that wide sectors of the societies in developing countries aspire to access educational resources. In this paper, we try to shed some light on the promise of open source software in education in Sudan as a developing country. We follow a systematic approach by firstly highlighting the potential drawbacks of adopting open source solutions at educational institutions, and describing possible ways around. The suitability of open source software to education is thrashed out with a special attention to the Sudanese context and its complexities. The paper shows various open source-based solutions to overcome the difficulties facing education in Sudan and presents recipes for a better educational experience.