REPORT:
WORKSHOP A6
Adult Education in Prison
Task:
To examine the global situation in
prison education and to consider issues such as whether education for prisoners
is a basic right or privilege and how this area of adult education can be
improved.
To provide some background to the
issues, a paper outlining the dangers of privatization was presented by Marc De
Maeyer, while M Niles of Barbados shared information regarding reforms which
have been taking place in Barbados leading to inmates being exposed not only to
basic education but to courses at University level.
Comments on the situation in the
United Kingdom, Israel and the USA were provided by participants from those
countries. The group was also updated
on the UNESCO research project on education in prisons, which is currently
being undertaken.
Highlights of discussion/conclusion
1.
Defining Education
Although not having intimate knowledge of the documents, the group
agreed to accept the Hamburg Declaration definition of education as long as it
included all types of interventions which could lead to self-actualization,
improvement of life and rehabilitation for the prisoners.
2.
Education – right or privilege?
Education is a right for all, free or incarcerated, even in situation
where persons neither recognize or value this right.
The group was divided however on the level at which education became a
privilege. Most people believed that
basic education was a right but that higher education was a privilege with
attendant responsibilities.
3.
Who should control?
The education of prisoners should remain in the control of
governments. Including of programs
should come from public funds with some level of cost sharing by prisoners
studying at advanced levels.
4.
The need for research
The need for more quantitative, qualitative and behavioral research to
assess the existing programs was stressed as was the importance of conducting a
needs survey to determine what prisoners themselves perceived their needs to be
in order to determine future programs.
5.
Technology in prisons
The use of technology as an educational tool should be introduced with
caution since it could have the negative effect of further alienation of
individuals and loss of social skills.
Recommendations
ICAE is being conveyed to
1.
Set
up working group to initiate further research, find ways of disseminating
information, look at ways of meeting the cost of prison, make recommendations
to international bodies
2.
Promote
legislation designed to improve/provide existing programs
3.
Lobby
for facilities and environments more conducive to learning
4.
Encourage
public education on the importance of education in prison
5.
Emphasize
the need for training for volunteers and other providers of education in prison
6.
Build networks which will allow for consensus and
consolidated efforts in the area of prison reform
The group agreed to propose the following to be
included in the Draft Declaration of Ocho Rios.
Recognizing that education is a right for all, we
propose that an International Observatory in Education in Prison be established
to:
| Back to the workshop reports index |