Ex -convict returns to prison to sit exams
Nov 02, 2016
A total of 69 inmates have sat for Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education which started yesterday.
Among the inmates who sat for PLE at Luzira Prisons was Agen Walter Okidi, an ex-convict who had spent four years in Kigo Prison. "I was released before I sat for PLE, yet I had already registered.
While ex-convicts fear to move any closer to a detention facility upon discharge, for me I decided to return to Luzira Prisons to ensure I fulfill my dreams, Okidi told New Vision.
Though incarcerated, inmates of Luzira Maximum Security Prison still have hope for the future.
A total of 69 inmates have sat for Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education which started yesterday.
Uganda Government Upper Prison Luzira Primary School registered 77 candidates for the exam with two inmates who are on death row. Among the candidates who sat for the exams only seven were female.
In an interview with Newvision, Gilbert Niwamanya the Head teacher said besides the various security points that require everyone to go through to access prisons, there were no challenges along the way since the exam papers arrived in time.
Niwamanya observed that, having received a number of teachers from the Ministry of Education and Sports, education behind bars will probably improve and this year's candidates are expected to perform better than the previous years."
Reports indicate that over 50% of the inmates were illiterate at the time they were imprisoned, but prison provides them with functional adult literacy classes as well as other aspects of informal and formal education.
Niwamanya, however, says that formal education being rather difficult for adults, most learners drop out opting to join the informal adult literacy programme, before completing their education behind bars.
Improvement of the educational system in jail will help to ensure that prisoners undergo the necessary rehabilitation hence become responsible citizens upon discharge Niwamanya stated