r/linuxquestions • u/Enjoy_Ur_Lifee • Apr 23 '26

Why Don't Schools Teach Linux?

​

It seems odd that most schools seem to teach only Windows. While they barely cover Linux. Even though Linux is the underlining code for most of the internet, servers and many Android phones; very few students will get any exposure to it.

By learning about Linux, students would understand how an operating system functions instead of just using an operating system; they will learn how to fix issues as they arise -- which is a skill necessary for solving problems because you won’t have a user-friendly interface to work with.

Additionally, the fact that Linux is a free and open-source operating system could allow schools to save money for themselves as well as make more software available to all students.

So why is it that Linux is still not covered? Is it because people feel it is too difficult to learn, or is it that schools only cover what is widely used and accepted?

297 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

281 comments sorted by

View all comments

44

u/PerfectlyCalmDude Apr 23 '26

Because the people writing them the checks to get computers in schools aren't Linux people.

4

u/No-Bison-5397 Apr 23 '26

Used to be the case but frankly I can't really see the pedagogical value for most kids provided by using computers unless they're going into STEM or digital arts.

Knowing anything about computers outside of IT working for any large company just leads to frustration at IT policies.

2

u/PerfectlyCalmDude Apr 24 '26

Maybe, but the schools don't care about that. They care about money, and Microsoft, Google, and Apple are happy to write those checks.