University courses for prisoners

KUALA LUMPUR: Open University Malaysia (OUM) added another feather to its cap when it became the first university to offer tertiary education for prisoners.
Some 33 inmates of Kajang Prison and Kota Kinabalu prison had enrolled for courses since 2008 as part of Prison Department's human development programme initiative done with support of the Friend of Prison Club.
OUM's Pro-Chancellor Tan Sri Azman Hashim said academic development is important to recreate valuable human resources especially among young inmates.
"This is the first of such programme in the country and I am sure more prisoners will take up the offer to pursue their tertiary education," he said, adding that they will make this offer to all prisons nationwide as it will give them a chance to find work after having served their sentence.
He said another 41 prisoners have shown interest to pursue the courses next year. Among the courses offered are Early Childhood Education, Business Management, IT and Islamic Studies in diploma, degree as well as masters.
The prisoners will do their courses at their respective prisons with OUM providing flexible learning methods such as E-Learning, Module Courses and Tutors.
"While they can study via internet online, we will also send our tutors to the prison," Azman said at 16th OUM convocation ceremony held at Putra World Trade Centre.
At the convocation some 2,700 students graduated including three prisoners – two in Diploma in Business Management and the other in Bachelor of Business Management.
"This is the first time prisoners are allowed to attend the convocation ceremony outside the prison," he said.
Prison department's Inmates Management director commissioner Jamaluddin Saad said this programme was an extension for the 3M programme (reading, writing and calculate) in the prison's Integrity School as it provided a chance for the inmates to sit for the SPM and STPM examinations.
"There are 11 such schools in prisons nationwide," Jamaluddin said. "This year alone, there are 138 inmates who will sit for the SPM."
Meanwhile Karim, 28, of Kajang Prison said he was happy to have received his in Bachelor Degree of Business Management.
He was among the first batch of inmates to enrol for the courses in 2008.
"When I was sent to the prison I never dreamt that I would able to study and better still get a degree. He intends to further his education in Business Administration next year.