Prisoners break bars to education
Pupils at Sada Correctional Centre manage to maintain 83% pass rate
ada Correctional Centre matric pupils have proved once again that prison bars will not hold them back in life, by having maintained an 83% pass rate.
Five out of six pupils who wrote the 2019 matric exams passed, while the sixth pupil is set to write supplementary exams.
The correctional centre s pupils
’ obtained two Bachelor s passes, two
’ diplomas and one higher certificate.
They were examined in IsiXhosa, English, mathematical literacy, life orientation, agricultural science, history and life sciences.
During the annual inmate matric awards ceremony held at Tswelopele Correctional Centre in Kimberley on Monday, minister for justice & correctional services, Ronald Lamola, recognised Sonwabo Mvuleni as the best performing educator in correctional services in the Eastern Cape.
Mvuleni teaches history and tourism at the Cradock Correctional Centre.
Mvuleni said one of the strategies the centre had employed included
Sallocating a separate unit for offenders writing their matric exams, which was of great assistance ”. “This needs to happen so as to “control and monitor their studies and to have a venue to conduct extra classes and consult with other teachers from local schools in the area,” Mvuleni said.
He said the Eastern Cape region was the third highest performing nationally.
Department of correctional services EC regional action communications co-ordinator Thandokazi Marwanqa said the region acknowledged the dedication and hard work of all educators at the Cradock and Sada correctional centres.
They ensure that we uphold the
“objectives of the department in rehabilitating offenders so they become better citizens when they are released,” Marwanqa said.
The department also recognises
“that education is one of the president s top priorities that needs
’ attention in order to realise the achievements of the national development plan in driving the country forward.”