By Blessings Kaunda
Mzuzu, February 10, Mana: Malawi Prison Service (MPS) has said 2021 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) results in prisons have shown that the institutions provide quality education as the pass rate has increased from 50 per cent in 2020 to 55.6 per cent in 2021.
In an interview on Thursday with Malawi News Agency, MPS Spokesperson, Chimwemwe Shawa said 44 out of 79 inmates who sat for MSCE passed the examinations.
He said the best performer is from Mzuzu Prison and scored 18 points.
“To us, this is an indication that we are providing reformative, arbitrative and re-introgression programs in inmates amidst the challenge that we are facing in the field of education,” Shawa said.
He said the prisons have managed to go that far with inadequate qualified teachers. We also lack science laboratories, well stocked libraries, teaching and learning materials,
“Despite all these challenges, MPS strives to provide education to inmates as one way of reforming them so that they can be productive citizens,” he said.
Shaba then appealed for support from stakeholders and well-wishers who would wish to join MPS in reforming inmates through provision of quality education.
Education activist who is also Executive Director for Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC), Benedicto Kondowe, said there is need to provide enabling environment in prisons, appreciating that the places are already constrained in terms of infrastructure.
“But every effort must be made to make sure that we provide learning facilities within the prisons so that inmates’ right to education is also guaranteed,” Kondowe said.
He said provision of education to inmates is consistent with reforms in prisons.
“Inmates should be provided with prerequisite competences and capacities so that they become competent to contribute towards the country’s development.
“So, I think the most powerful tool we can use to perform inmates is education, as such, government must ensure that inmates are accorded their right to education,” he said.