Open source tools in teaching – UGC NET Question

Statements A, B, D and E give a balanced view of open-source use in education, while C and F are misleading. Open-source software can be securely deployed when properly managed, and its value depends on pedagogical fit, usability and training as well as cost and customisation options. Simply having an open licence does not guarantee educational effectiveness. Therefore the correct set includes A, B, D and E and excludes C and F.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it recognises customisation, community support, potential cost savings and practical adoption issues. It avoids stereotypes that open-source tools are either inherently unsafe or automatically pedagogically superior, providing a nuanced picture instead.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it adds F, which claims educational value depends only on licence type. This ignores teaching methods, learning goals and user experience, so including F invalidates the combination even though A, B and E are true.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it omits D and adds F. Without D, there is no mention of cost considerations, and with F, the option mistakenly equates licence type with educational quality. This makes the set incomplete and inaccurate.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it introduces F and leaves out B. Excluding B underplays the role of communities in maintaining open-source tools, while including F suggests pedagogy does not matter, so the combination cannot be accepted.