3 July, 2003
Inmates at Auckland Prison are learning to drive in preparation for life after release.
But it is computers, not cars, that will help them back in to society.
Computer tutor John Meekins is instructing inmates through a skills course that earns them the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) qualification.
"There are inmates who, when released, are walking out of here and into good jobs because of the confidence they've gained by passing their ICDL," says Mr Meekins.
"Finding and holding down a job when they leave has a big impact on their success beyond prison. Some inmates with the ICDL have gone on to find jobs in computer related areas – networking, graphics and teaching.
"Many of these people have failed at a lot in life – this qualification gives them something they can achieve, and a certificate to prove it," he says.
Mr Meekins says that ICDL was introduced last year and so far about 60 inmates have completed the course. It is one of several employment-focused educational programmes the Department of Corrections runs.
"Every inmate has a sentence plan, where we match programmes like this to those who would benefit most from them.
"The qualification is NZQA approved and is complimentary to the National Certificate in Employment Skills, which is also offered by Corrections."
Auckland Prison is the first New Zealand prison to teach the ICDL course. The Department of Corrections will evaluate the programme's effectiveness and look at expanding it nationwide.
"We have men from all backgrounds here, from industry professionals to those who can't read or write. Some inmates don't know what a computer mouse looks like. This seven-module course can take anywhere from two months to a year, because they can learn at their own pace," he says.
Mr Meekins says that because the learning is done on screen, with the student wearing headphones, no one knows when he makes a mistake. A student can go back a few steps, or back to the beginning, without anyone knowing. That contributes to a pass rate of about 80 percent, he says.
The ICDL is the standard benchmark of computer competence increasingly demanded by businesses looking to employ people who can "drive" a computer.
It offers a tested level of competence in basic concepts of information technology, file management, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentations and communications.
Arthur Kebbell, computer educator and managing director of Computing NZ, which distributes ICDL, says the licence is helping raise the level of computer competence in the whole New Zealand community.
"We hope it will help make computing available to everyone," says Mr Kebbell. "It's an entry level qualification that can be completed by anyone – school-leavers, solo parents, manual workers - who wants to be part of a business.
"This qualification means employers can put ICDL holders in charge of their computers with confidence."