Usep co-hosts inmates’ transformative educ confab

THE University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep) co-hosted with the Social Entrepreneurship Technology and Business Institute (SETBI) the 1st International Conference on Inmates’ Transformative Education for Successful Re-entry on May 16-17, 2018 at the Social Hall of the Usep Obrero campus in Davao City.

The conference centered on the theme Hope for Restoration—Today’s Inmate is Tomorrow’s Neighbor.

In August 2017, USeP, SETBI, and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) launched the College Education Behind Bars (CEBB) program— considered the first of its kind in the country. This allows Davao City Jail inmates to earn a degree from USeP while serving their prison sentence. In October 2017, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with SETBI for the possible nationwide expansion of the CEBB program.

The founding academic director of John Jay’s Prison-to-College Pipeline program, New York who is also a professor, writer, and journalist was among the main speakers of the conference. Other speakers include the heads of the following institutions: BJMP 11; Davao City Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Drug Dependents; Commission on Higher Education; Department of Justice; Davao City Prosecution Office; City Anti-Drug Abuse Council; Police Regional Office 11; Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 11; Archdiocesan Social Action Center; an executive judge from the Regional Trial Court, a lawyer-faculty of CEBB, and a local media practitioner.

USeP represented by President Lourdes C. Generalao, and SETBI represented by Dr. Aland D. Mizell, President, and Atty. Susan Cariaga, Vice President, underscore that education is a right which must be afforded to all people and that it is a shared responsibility. usep.edu.ph