Department reiterates support for inmate education

THE Department of Correctional Services (DCS) says it will continue to support and encourage inmates who want to further their studies while serving their time in prison. The department made the announcement as this week, 24 to 30 September 2018, marks the commemoration of Corrections week.

In a statement, the department said,”We continue to support inmates to enroll for degrees, and other qualifications, with institutions of higher learning. The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) is currently supporting DCS with career development services, and a programme to capture assessment data of learners registered at DCS TVET Colleges.”

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Last year (2017), DCS entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with UNISA to provide academic support to student offenders who are studying higher education through correspondence.

“UNISA has also assisted the department in the establishment of computer hubs, as central learning centres, where offenders have direct access to UNISA. To date, 14 UNISA hubs are functional throughout the country. The skills, and training, acquired by inmates behind bars are not only for their personal benefit, but must be utilised in supporting developmental infrastructure projects and general maintenance work in schools and other public facilities,” added the department.

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