9 April
A graduation ceremony was held yesterday at Manawatu Prison to mark the completion of a prison-based Universal College of Learning (UCOL) Building, Construction & Allied Trades (BCATs) course.
Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE) Area Operations Manager Julie Gowan says 13 prisoners graduated from the UCOL trained and New Zealand Qualifications Authority accredited course.
“Successfully completing the 10 week course has earned these prisoners a BCATs National Certificate Level Two.
“Gaining a qualification like this is a significant achievement for prisoners with many of them having never before taken part in formal education at this level.
Julie says prisoner employment and trade training is an important part of a prisoner's reintegration back into society.
“The last prison census showed 55 per cent of prisoners did not have a job before entering prison and 52 per cent had no formal qualifications. Research shows that prisoners who find sustainable employment on release are less likely to re-offend.
“Nearly all prisoners will be released from prison at some point and it’s in everyone’s interest they reintegrate successfully back into the community.”
CIE aims to provide prisoners with meaningful employment opportunities, training and formal qualifications to assist them with finding work that they will continue in after release.
Julie says CIE works closely with Institutes of Technology, Polytechnics and Industry Training Organisations to provide up-to-date, relevant and accredited training for prisoners.
“We are looking forward to continuing our relationship with UCOL and have further courses in carpentry scheduled throughout the year. The next course is due to start in June with an intake of 14 prisoners.”
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