03.08.12
Basic English and maths courses piloted for prisoners
Prisoners are to be given ‘military-style’ maths and English lessons to increase their chances of finding work once they are released, and reduce reoffending.
The courses comprise 54 hours of lessons over two weeks, with more help to be offered if needed. The project will be piloted in six jails, and rolled out to others if successful.
The idea for the lessons was based on a project that the National Institute of Adult Continued Education showed boosted military recruits’ basic skills, confidence and future careers.
Lessons will be linked to other popular courses like construction or painting and decorating. Prisoners’ needs will be assessed at the beginning of their sentences and the courses will begin soon afterwards.
Skills minister John Hayes said: “We are determined to make prisons places where people learn skills to build lives beyond crime. This pilot is about ensuring prisoners are more likely to work than commit crime when they leave.
“Breaking the damaging cycle of re-offending and re-imprisonment will not only turn around the lives of countless prisoners, it will also prevent the suffering of their potential victims and reduce the burden on the taxpayer.”
Business secretary Vince Cable added: “Crime blights lives both for the offender and the victim. That is why we are piloting this programme in prisons so we can give prisoners the basic skills they need to get their lives on track.”
Starting in August, the programme will be piloted in Manchester, Garth, Kirkham, Lancaster Farms, Styal and Altcourse.
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