With the national matric exam season about to get underway, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is aiming for an improvement in the pass rate for inmates writing matric exams.
National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Makgothi Thobakgale, said: “Education fosters a sense of self-worth and purpose among inmates. As a result, this can boost their self-esteem and reduce the likelihood of returning to criminal activities. [Through] strategic partnerships and hard work by educators and correctional officials, DCS is more optimistic of a promising future”.
Last year, inmates obtained an 87.5% pass rate with some 11 schools reaching a 100% pass rate.
“As if that was not enough, four inmates went on to achieve six distinctions, wherein, the best performing offender scored an average of 87.9%. With a better level of preparedness in the 2023 academic year, DCS is confident of an improved performance for the current year,” the department said.
The department explained that at least 198 inmates will sit for the exams.
“They commenced with Computer Applications Technology on 24 October 2023 and shall go full steam on 30 October 2023 tackling English Paper 1. [The department] had 204 registered inmates for the [National Senior Certificate] examinations but six benefited from the special remission of sentences, thus taking them out of Correctional Centre schools.
“The NSC examinations are an important yardstick for Correctional Services as we seek to inspire positive change within the correctional system, empower inmates with the tools for personal growth and rehabilitation, and to ultimately reduce the crime rate in the country,” the department said.
Furthermore, other inmates will also be taking up their pens to write other examinations.
“The same push is to be experienced with another cohort of inmates involved in examinations, being Adult Education and Training (AET), and Tertiary Education and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), in various facilities across the country. A total of 1 180 inmates will be sitting for AET Level 4 examinations, whilst 1 471 will be writing TVET papers,” the department said.
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