Curriculation and Methodology in Relation to Development Programmes in Prisons

• NCJ Number: 217319
• Journal: Acta Criminologica Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Dated: 2004 Pages: 24-33
• Author(s): N. du Preez; W. Luyt
• Date Published: 2004
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: South Africa
• Note: To access the full text PDF: 1) select the provided PDF link; 2) from the Acta Criminologica Web site, select "Table of Contents"; 3) select the corresponding Volume and Issue (see the NCJRS abstract record for the exact Volume and Issue); 4) scroll the Table of Contents to the exact article; and 5) click on the "full text" icon. Downloaded February 12, 2007

Annotation

This article explores how education is addressed within prison environments around the world.

Abstract

The importance of education programs within the corrections framework is widely recognized by countries around the world as crucially important for the rehabilitation of offenders and the improvement of public safety. The authors briefly review the correctional education programs in different countries, including the United States, China, Hong Kong, and Britain. Examples of exceptional corrections education programming are offered for each country, such as Hong Kong’s compulsory education program for juvenile offenders that requires juvenile offenders to spend half their day receiving formal education and the other half receiving vocational education. The scope of education programming in South Africa’s correctional system is considered, which prioritizes the elimination of illiteracy among prisoners. Formal education in South African prisons span the spectrum of academic training with literacy identified as the core ingredient of educational efforts. The authors discuss the necessity of using appropriate teaching methods for adult inmate populations, which tend to have diverse educational backgrounds and personal characteristics. The importance of offering educational programming that is similar to what is offered in the community is also stressed as a key component of successful offender educational programming along with the inclusion of career guidance. Prison labor is widely used as a training tool and can offer offenders important lessons concerning vocational skills and self-sufficiency. Alternative methods of offender development and education in prison settings are identified, such as prison libraries, book clubs, drama and theatre, and visual arts programs. The importance of inmate involvement and ownership in the educational programming is underscored as crucial to any program’s success. Flexibility must be built within these programs to allow for offenders’ unique learning patterns. Bibliography