The prison’s department of education is working in collaboration with other stakeholders to boost formal education for inmates, Correctional Services Principal Secretary Salome Beacco has said.
On Friday, the PS noted that many inmates have requested to be provided with formal education so that by the time they complete their sentence terms, they will have valid academic certificates.
Beacco, speaking when she visited Murang’a and Marajau prisons, said her department is working to increase classrooms in prisons and teachers to enable interested inmates to access formal education.
“Our prison education department is vibrant and is collaborating with other relevant stakeholders to increase classrooms within prisons and train more teachers so that inmates can access formal education,” she noted.
Last year, the PS added that prisons trained 57 teachers, equipping them with skills for training Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).
“We are proud to say the prisons have also produced inmate graduates who have been trained while serving their sentences. In Kamiti prison, 14 inmates have graduated with degrees in law in the recent past,” she revealed.
Beacco observed that the prison department is also establishing science laboratories, computer labs, and furniture so that the inmates get quality education to enable them to access employment once they finish their jail terms.
“Our aim is to ensure those who finish their jail terms are responsible members of the public and that they will contribute to building the nation by undertaking various development works after acquiring skills while in prisons,” remarked the PS.
Beacco further said they are exploring possibilities to expand and equip prison workshops to boost vocational training among inmates.
She observed that, together with some agencies like the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), they will expand and equip the workshops so as to provide vocational skills to willing inmates.
“The vocational training of inmates is in line with the presidential directive of growing Small and micro enterprises, and once the trained inmates are released from jail, they embark on entrepreneurship and can also access hustler funds to support their ventures in various enterprises,” said Beacco.
The PS continued, “Prisons have improved their correctional services, and we hope once inmates are through with their sentences, they will be rehabilitated and ready to serve the nation in different capacities.”
Beacco called upon members of society to support the work done by prisons by buying items and equipment manufactured by inmates.
“Prisons have quality products made in their workshops, and one way for Kenyans to support our work is to buy items made by the inmates. This will support our correctional work and reduce the burden on the government.
“As we await long rains, there are quality grafted seedlings in our prisons, and Kenyans can purchase and plant the seedlings in their farms as we adhere to and support the government’s directive of growing more than 10 million trees,” averred the PS.
During the visit, the Department of Correctional Services donated toiletries, 100 mattresses, and 70 blankets to inmates held at Murang’a prisons.
By Bernard Munyao
