Corradino Correctional Facility will start its educational year next month with more than 35 diversified, formal and informal learning opportunities for residents. This means that in just two years the total number of learning opportunities has tripled, the government said.
These rehabilitation and educational services are part of the Government’s commitment for a society with the least number of victims of crime.
Details were given by the Minister for Home Affairs and National Security, Carmelo Abela, during a conference presenting the results of a study on education for adolescent and adult women in prison, ‘Finding Education for Female Inmates’, conducted by ten partners from eight European countries, including Malta through the participation of the University of Malta Faculty for Social Wellbeing.
Discussing the progress in educational services, offered to residents at Corradino Correctional Facility, Minister Abela noted a sense of optimism, driven by success in participation levels in the past 12 months. A third of the prison population, which is 93% male and 7% female, took part in one of the organised learning opportunities.
The Facility’s action plan for correctional services was outlined in the Home Affairs Minister’s address. In the field of formal education, Corradino Facility strengthened its collaboration with different educational facilities such as MCAST, UOM and ITS. Last year 6 residents attended such courses, but this year the number more than doubled to 15 inmates, including 3 women. They are following courses up to Diploma level in a range of subjects.
Non-formal education has become popular among inmates and retention rates are satisfactory with results showing amelioration in personal growth of residents.
A significant number of inmates struggle with basic literacy and numeracy. This area, for which demand is on the increase, is being given prominence, particularly with youth offenders where small classes, at times even one to one, are being held.
Minister Abela stressed that the way forward for correctional services in the Facility is two-fold. There needs to be an increase in professional staff and programmes should be personalised and appropriate to the needs of inmates. In this regard, he said recruitment is currently underway for psychologists, social workers and care-plan coordinators who would provide a sentence plan programme, meeting the bio-psycho-social necessities of each inmate.
The Minister for Home Affairs stressed the importance of positive collaboration between inmates and correctional officers where the latter are not merely perceived as prison guards but as educators serving as an example of good behaviour.
“It is crucial for inmates to understand that time spent in a correctional facility in a rehabilitative way can serve as a tool in their fight against stigma and gaining reintegration into society,” stated Minister Abela.