Inmates from the Barberton Correctional Facility are in a celebratory mood after receiving their matric results.
Out of 14 inmates who sat for the 2019 matric examinations, only 12 managed to pass attaining four bachelors, diplomas and four higher certificates.
The correctional centre consists of two formal schools which are the Vuselela Learning Centre which had five learners attained a 100% pass and Umlalati Learning Centre at the Maximum Correctional Centre with nine learners attained 77.7%.
One of the oldest candidates, 61-year-old Meshack Mnisi from KaNyamazane who was convicted to life imprisonment in 2015 for rape and assault, only had grade 9 when his was convicted.
He enrolled with the Vuselela Learning Centre in 2016 where he progressed until matric. When asked about what inspired him to return to school, Mnisi said he wanted to change his life and he realised that the best way to do that is to have education.
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“I am not happy with my results, I achieved higher certificate, I was hoping for a Bachelor, however I am not going to stop studying I am looking on other possibilities of furthering my studies,” said Mnisi.
The inmate was also invited by the MEC for Education, Bonakele Majuba as the guest honour during the announcement of 2019 National Senior certificate examination results in Secunda that took place on Wednesday morning.
“We are happy with the performance of inmates, this confirms the commitment of the department in eradicating illiteracy,” said spokesperson for correctional services at the Barberton facility, Messiah Hlungwani.
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