30 March
Twelve prisoners involved in Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE) training at Manawatu Prison have successfully completed a Building Construction and Allied Trades (BCAT) Level 2 National Certificate.
The graduation marks a step towards a brighter future for the prisoners involved by teaching them trade specific skills, and building their work experience to assist them in finding sustainable employment once they leave prison.
The BCAT programme, which is taught in partnership with UCOL, has been running for 21 months at a purpose built workshop facility at Manawatu Prison. Since the programme began 57 prisoners have graduated from the course with a Level 2 National Certificate.
“A high proportion of those who enter prisons have no formal qualifications, and many have low levels of literacy and numeracy. However, even with these disadvantages, our completion and graduation rate for this course is comparable to polytechnic graduation rates,” says CIE Central Area Manager Julie Gowan.
“CIE aims to help prisoners look beyond prison by learning skills to change their focus and outlook so that they can live a life without crime.”
The ten-week course is regarded as an introduction to joinery and construction. It gives students a broad understanding of building processes, the tools and the jargon used in the trade.
A Level 3 course has been introduced this year to build on these skill sets, and help encourage prisoners to work for an apprenticeship placement on release.
“A vocational training course like the BCAT programme is valuable for prisoners who are about to be released, as it familiarises them with a daily work routine and provides an incentive for future job seeking,” says Julie.
“It is always encouraging to be able to celebrate these graduations with the prisoners and the staff who have worked so hard to make CIE training courses such a success.”
Research shows that prisoners who find sustainable employment on release are less likely to re-offend.
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