Follow us on:

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube

Archive - Archive 2004 - July 2013

Prisoners rewarded for literacy course success |10 August 2009

Prisoners rewarded for literacy course success

Superintendent Hoareau addressing the audience during the certificate presentation ceremony

Out of 20 prisoners who had enrolled for the one-year programme through the Adult Learning and Distance Education Centre (Aldec), seven managed to finish it successfully.

The presentation was attended by Minister for Education Bernard Shamlaye, Aldec director Margaret Pillay, prison superintendent Benedict Hoareau, Friends of Prison Association patron French Chang-Him and families of the inmates.

Addressing the audience, Mr Hoareau said prison is not only a punishment institution for inmates but helps them to learn from their mistakes. It also gives them support so they can reintegrate into society when they have served their sentence.

“In prison we stress rehabilitation, and inmates who have an interest in learning and developing their ability can do so,” he said.

Jude Pointe, who received the best performer award, said prison is not a negative environment as some people might think.
He thanked the Ministry of Education for giving them the chance to improve their skills.

Aldec coordinator Donald Zialor said prisoners have completed the literacy course in one or more of the following subjects – English, French and Creole.

The inmates also recited poems and gave musical performances at the ceremony.

» Back to Archive