Becta's Learning Platform Procurement

In early January, Alpha Learning asked the European Commission to investigate Becta's Learning Platform Procurement for a breach of European regulations. Having taken formal legal advice, we have now supplied further evidence to the Commisison that Becta is in breach of European Law (see Press release of 13th March and Legal Advice). Local Authorities and Regional Broadband Consortia who want more information about the way in which Becta conducted its procurement should write to us here.

Associated documents are here. Please right click on the link and select 'Save target as...'.

	Press release
	Letter to the European Commission
	Speech to the European Education Partnership A summary of why technical interoperability is so vital to the implementation of e-learning in schools
	'Critique of Becta's policy on Learning Platforms A more detailed explanation of interoperability standards, together with an extensive review of Becta's failure over many years to implement successfully government policy for e-learning in schools.
		Appendix A: Suggested data model for MIS-LP interoperability
		Appendix B: Suggested architecture to underpin framework for interoperability in schools
	Press release (13th March 2007) "Local Authorities who use Becta framework may breach European Procurement Regulations"
		Letter of advice from public procurement lawyers, Taylor Wessing
	Letter from the European Commission Confirming registration of complaint and outlining procedure (received on 22 May)
	Statement by South West Grid for Learning announcing cancellation of procurement under the Becta Framework.
Links Alpha Learning's initiative was welcomed by many visitors to the Alpha Learning stand at BETT 2007 (see Thoughts from BETT). It has also been given wide coverage in a number of news sites:
	Merlin John Channel Register Public Technology Net The Register Supply Management.
and blogs:
	Kent County Council, an informed Local Authority observer, was also confused about the critiera applied by Becta. However, we think they were too easily impressed by Becta's rather evasive response the the complaint. There has been extensive discussion on the EduGeek forum under "The 10 Approved Becta Suppliers" topic. We are pleased that Webduction enjoyed reading our Critique of Becta's Learning Platform Policy (see above). We also welcome Ian Usher's more critical response to the Critique, as it initiated what turned out to be a useful discussion.

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Becta's Learning Platform Procurement