Things begin ‘to add up’ for some prisoners

(CNS): More than a dozen inmates at Northward prison received good news recently when they received their result from numeracy exams they had taken under the penal system’s rehabilitation programme, officials have said. The United Kingdom’s City and Guilds (C&G) examination centre recently sent the results from the July examinations and one prisoner aced the Numeracy Stage-Two paper, earning 100 percent, while another five passed Numeracy Stage-Three two of them with distinction.  Meanwhile another seven prisoners passed Level One English, five at the first-class level.

Others took the English for Business Communication exam, resulting in one first-class pass and the remainder attaining the 80-percent passing grade.

“I am delighted by our inmates’ continued academic successes,” said Prison Service Director Dwight Scott. Several factors have contributed to the encouraging results, the prison boss added, including a growing acceptance of the educational programme on the part of prisoners, a renewed focus by his own educators and officers, and strong backing from the Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs.

Between May 2009 and October 2010, 67 inmates passed exams in subjects such as spreadsheet processing techniques, English for office skills, numeracy and word-processing. Cayman’s institutions gained accreditation two years ago, following a rigorous process which saw C&G officials examining the prisons’ education programme and inspecting the facilities.

City and Guilds is the leading provider of vocational qualifications in the UK. It serves a wide range of industries, from entry level to the highest points of professional achievement. Today, the globally-recognised C&G examination centres offer more than 500 qualification choices.