Deplorable this situation as it is, it is even worse in the colleges and universities.  Public schools in far flung areas which may not have Internet are likely to be aware only of MS products.  For them, a computer is a box that runs Microsoft Windows.  Universities and colleges, especially in the bigger cities, on the other hand, pride themselves as centers of learning and innovation.  It's a shame they 

Perhaps, in some cases, the computers being used were donated by Microsoft, who are likely to demand that these computers retain their Windows eternally and us no other OS.  In other cases, MS would give free licenses of their software to the universities.  So, since the software is free, then there's no harm to it, right?  What else could be a better deal than free licenses?

Firstly, let's examine the free of concept of 'free' here.  Windows could be free in a sense that you don't have to shell out cash for it.  What we have here is a free thing in the sense of what Richard Stallman calls 'free beer'.  You have the freedom to run the operating system (or applications) and you have the freedom to use it as a platform to run other applications.  This freedom stops here, however.  You are not free to modify the product.  You are not allowed to see the inner workings of the code.  If the product breaks down, you can not even or are allowed to fix it on your own.  It's akin to buying a car and not being able to open the hood to tinker with engine.

Secondly, you do not have the freedom to distribute.

The way computer science students are being taught in a closed source environment is similar to mechanics being trained without being allowed to break open an engine to look at its inner workings.  It's like being given a car which you can drive, or roll down the windows.  You are even allowed to change the paint and seat covers if you want to.  Unfortunately, the hood is locked and you can't look at the engine let alone modify or fix it.  In case it breaks down, you have to send it back because only the manufacturers can fix it.  If you are unfortunate enough to stall every time you pass a pissing dog you might have to wait for the next release to have it fixed.  If you are lucky, we might issue a patch within the next 6 months.