Inmate matric results better than those on the outside
THE 2020 prison inmate matric cohort has achieved a 86.3% pass rate compared to the 76.2% achieved by outside Grade 12 learners, according to the department of Justice and Correctional Services.
Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola, at the release of the results at Leeuwkop Prison yesterday, said when the results of the part-time learners are included the pass rate is 81.3%.
Lamola said 160 inmates wrote their matric exams last year, and that five correctional schools achieved 100% pass rates, and there were 76 distinctions achieved with 78 bachelors degree passes.
He said educational attainment in DCS has significantly improved, looking at the pass rate that inmates have been achieving over the years.
In the past five years the department achieved: 2015 – 72.9%; 2016 – 72.1%; 2017 – 76.7%; 2018 – 77.3%; and 2019 – 82.6%.
“The education of inmates was also affected and faced various challenges when our country was placed under lockdown in March 2020. This disrupted our educational programmes. Hence we explored other approaches for teaching and learning behind bars,” said Lamola.
He said one of the approaches implemented and intensified was access to online tutoring and learning by inmates.
He said most of the inmates responded positively to that approach, they ably confronted significant challenges and Covid-19 could not hinder their desire to do well in their studies.
Lamola said in preparing for the 2020 school year, they ensured that each correctional centre school drew up a curriculum recovery plan to make up for the lost time.
Parliament’s portfolio committee on Justice and Correctional Services chairperson, Bulelani Magwanishe, said the committee was encouraged by the results of the inmates who wrote matric under very difficult conditions.
Magwanishe said they remain an inspiration to them, that a correctional facility is an area where people should do deep reflection, not an area where people are condemned to death.
“Out of the circumstances that they found themselves in, I think, it is something good that we can all learn from,” said Magwanishe.