Thousands of jailbirds educated

A total of 1 420 inmates enrolled in various education and vocational training programmes in 2019, while 1 059 prisoners attended psychosocial programmes.The Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) provides rehabilitative interventions that are holistic and are aimed at rehabilitating offenders through a multidimensional approach.NCS general staff directorate head Commissioner Sam Shaalulange said many offenders lack the necessary literacy skills to gainfully participate in rehabilitation programmes and to function effectively in a modern-day knowledge-based economy. Education services are therefore geared towards imparting functional literacy skills and the relevant vocational skills.Shaalulange said the NCS recognises that some offenders have a number of education and vocational training needs which are similar to those of the general public. “As such, vocational training in the NCS concerns imparting offenders with practical employment skills, so that they become able to sustain self-supporting lifestyles. “Therefore, educational upgrading is required to improve vocational training and employment prospects,” Shaalulange said.“These education activities are based on interest. This is a stream of educational activities that are initiated by offenders to improve their levels of educational attainment. These pursuits include studying to attain a Grade 12 qualification and other tertiary level education qualifications.”Shaalulange said the NCS offers vocational training in trades such as metalwork, motor mechanics, upholstery, fitting and turning, building construction, carpentry, textile manufacturing and panel beating and spray painting. “Offenders are also trained in agricultural skills to further aid them in securing employment after their release.”In 2019 alone, the NCS trained 382 offenders in the following fields: 30 in metalwork, 20 in joinery and cabinetmaking, 37 in tailoring, seven in leather or shoemaking, 11 in upholstery, 14 in animal husbandry, 88 in crops and horticulture production, 39 in farm machinery and infrastructure, 29 in motor mechanics, nine in panel beating and spray painting, 10 in carpentry, 69 in bricklaying and plastering, 26 in plumbing, 18 in general electrical work and 25 in hydroponics or aquaponics.A total of 1 038 inmates were enrolled in education programmes: 586 for functional literacy, 287 for adult upper primary education (AUPE), 80 at the Namibian College of Open Learning (Namcol) for Grade 10, 61 at Namcol for Grade 12 and 24 for tertiary courses.Shaalulange added that “the NCS also provides support rehabilitation activities that target lower-risk offenders, who do not require intensive interventions and short-term offenders who will not be able to participate in the lengthy core rehabilitation programmes”.Also targeted are offenders who will not be able to participate in the lengthy and more intensive core rehabilitation programmes, due to treatment motivation, age, illiteracy, language difficulties, cognitive abilities and other barriers.Others also targeted include offenders who are serving long sentences, and who will have to undergo subsequent more intense core rehabilitation programmes, and offenders who have completed core rehabilitation programmes, in instances where the evaluation of programme outcomes indicated the need for follow-through interventions to consolidate the learning gains achieved.Shaalulange added that 1 059 inmates went through three different psychosocial programmes.He said 225 went through core-structured programmes, which are cognitive-behavioural in nature and that target factors that are directly linked to offenders' criminal behaviour, with the aim of reducing re-offending. At least 410 inmates went through formalised rehabilitation interventions that are aimed at supporting the outcomes of the core-structured programmes, while 424 went through counselling services.The prison authority also offers religious rehabilitation programmes.ILENI NANDJATO

Thousands of jailbirds educated

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Namibian Sun 2026-05-11

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Thousands of jailbirds educated

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Namibian Sun 2026-05-11

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