Submission to the Education Committee’s Inquiry, Education: Are prisoners being left behind?
29 January 2021
The Howard League for Penal Reform welcomes this important inquiry on education in prison. This submission focuses on children and young adults.
Research on desistance shows that education is vitally important in helping people to turn away from crime towards purposeful lives. Education classes are an opportunity to learn, expand horizons, and to work co-operatively.
Yet education in prison is an afterthought, subject to operational requirements. The education system in prison is not fit for purpose for children, young adults or older adults, both in terms of quantity and quality. It is too often repetitive, stultifying and unimaginative.
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