History: 
During the end of 2007, we were working on updates to fix bugs in Linux Educacional 1.0. Our main contribution was a new kernel. But we were using our improved version only whitin our company. After we shared our updated version, we were called to make a new Linux Educacional.

 

We were asked to make a new Linux Educacional that were an evolution of version 1.0 not a new project from scratch. We were prompted to use Debian due its focus on community instead of commercial approach and we were prompted to use KDE due its friendly interface. The new art and look were sent to us.

 

Our main tasks were: define package set that fits in 700MB, make packages for custom configurations, for the art, for boot splash and the for the new kernel, change the Debian Installer template, create a seed file for Debian Installer, remove unused modules from Debian Installer and configure Debian Installer to use our anchor package. This work began in February 2008 and spent  about 400 hours of work.

 

Debian Installer is very powerful and flexible. BUT it is not simple and the documentation is not complete. Doing basic stuff like adding a seed file is not problem, but tasks like updating Debian Installer kernel and the creation of modules ( or udebs ) for Debian Installer is not simple. Now we are fan of Debian Installer, we can tell you that it is a very good installer, but we had to spend many hours to start liking it.

 

Linux Educational 2.0 is being used in almost 144.000 stations right now and this may almost triple up to the end 2008.

The future:
Due its wide usage, we had reports of bugs that may be fixed in near future. We are working in the version 2.1 right now(August 21 2008) that will incorporate a new multimedia player and will fix installer problems.

Skolelinux User Conference:
On October 2008, I went to Oslo, Norway, to speak about Linux Educacional and Brazilian schools, showing what is being done in Brazil.
"How can Free Software meet the needs of the educational sector? How has Free Software been employed and received in schools at different places in the world? We present Free Software-projects that today is used by millions of pupils and teachers in schools all over the world. We do not need – any more – to ask ourself when Linux will conquer the desktop PC. It has happened. How might these installations inspire others?"

On the press / links:
Skolelinux User Conference ( Web Page, Presentation(ODP/PDF), Video )
Knut Yrvin - Akademy 2009 - Paper (Thanks for the reference Knut!)
KDE in Public Schools in Brazil
Rafel Nink's Linux Educacional site
KDE Linux reaches millions Brazilian kids (The numbers are a little exaggerated )

Download:
You can download it from here.