Education and training

Research shows that participation in education and employment can significantly reduce the risk of re-offending following release from prison. Educational achievement is also important in enabling offenders to fully participate and benefit from other rehabilitative programmes.

Many people in prison lack the necessary literacy and numeracy skills, qualifications, and work experience to gain and sustain employment after release.

About 30% of people in prison have a qualification at NCEA Level 1 or above, and around 10% of people in prison require intense numeracy and literacy support. A significant number of people in prison have partially completed qualifications.

We’re committed to improving the educational outcomes of people in prison so they gain the skills needed for everyday life and employment.

To support this, we offer people in prison a range of qualifications, training, and support. Firstly, we work to identify each person’s educational needs and goals, and recommend next steps.  This may include access to universal support such as libraries, access to a literacy and numeracy programme, foundation or higher level qualifications, vocational short courses, and/or industry and vocational training.

Learning Pathway Conversations

To ensure learners are on a pathway to progress towards their education and employment goals and aspirations, Education Tutors have Learning Pathway Conversations with people when they arrive in prison, and at regular intervals during their time in prison.

This process involves assessing a range of learner needs, including literacy and numeracy levels, and screening for dyslexia. A person’s NZQA record of learning is also reviewed, and then we work with the learner to identify the programmes of study and qualifications they can take to achieve their goals. This gives learners a long-term learning pathway, gaining maximum educational benefit while addressing their identified needs.

Literacy and Numeracy Support Service

Limited literacy and numeracy competency is a significant barrier to further education/employment and can negatively impact a person’s everyday life.

To address this, Corrections provides an intensive literacy and numeracy service. Services are targeted to those with the highest need (assessed at Steps One and Two on the Adult Literacy and Numeracy Progressions) and it is expected that these learners are referred to this programme before progressing onto any other educational programme.

New Zealand Qualifications

These programmes offer learners in prison access to a range of trades and non-trades qualifications provided by external providers (Polytechnics, Wānanga or Private Training Establishments) and funded by the Tertiary Education Commission.

For most learners we offer Foundation level (NZQF L1 - 3) qualifications which provide a range of core competencies and vocational pathways to assist with employment and progression into higher level qualifications.

Learners can also study through Self-Directed Learning (SDL), by enrolling in secondary school, certificate, diploma, and tertiary level programmes via distance learning. Supported by Education Tutors, learners can enrol in programmes with providers such as the Te Kura, Open Polytechnic, The Learning Connexion, and Massey University.

Secure Online Learning (SOL)

Suitable prisoners may engage in computer-based learning through our Secure Online Learning suites. Each prison has at least one computer suite that provides secure, controlled, and monitored access to approved education, life skills, employment, and reintegration focused content.

The suites are facilitated by Education Tutors and give learners in prison an opportunity to increase their digital skills, literacy and numeracy, work towards qualifications, and prepare for employment before they are released. Learners engaged in Secure Online Learning have been through a rigorous selection process based on security, eligibility, and need.

Industry Qualification Training

Industry Training takes place through Offender Employment (OE). Not all learners in prison engage in OE or participate in Industry Training Qualifications. Industry Training is delivered by Corrections Industry Instructors with quality assurance by external Industry Training Organisations (ITOs). These programmes enable leaners to gain industry-related skills and qualifications through on-the-job training to support employment across several areas, including primary industries, building and construction, and engineering.

Vocational Short Courses

These short duration (non-qualification) programmes delivered by external providers enable prison learners to gain vocational and employment-related unit standards to assist with employment.

This includes programmes in the areas of first aid, health and safety, and vocational driver licences. Examples of programmes include working at heights, scaffolding, forklift, site safe, and chemical handling.