Prisoner training surpassing expectations

Prisoner training surpassing expectations

Corrections Inmate Employment Instructors around the country have helped prisoners gain almost twice the anticipated number of NZQA credits over the past two months.

“Our Instructors have been working hard to up-skill themselves in their delivery of NZQA training and as a result, we’ve seen our target of 9,303 credits well surpassed with 16,341 credits delivered,” says Acting National Manager CIE Robin Benefield.

“We know from international research that prisoners who undertake education and vocational training are more equipped to find sustainable employment on release, which reduces their risk of offending.”

“The Government have made it clear that employment and education are both big priorities, and this came through in the 2009-2012 Prisoner Skills and Employment Strategy launched last year.”

“We were set some big challenges in the strategy, and it’s really pleasing to see how well our staff have risen to this challenge,” says Robin.

“We have been working steadily to ensure that we are offering good quality training to prisoners, and that our staff are well equipped not only to deliver training, but to assess prisoner’s against nationally recognised standards – such as NZQA credits.”

Corrections Inmate Employment provides employment experience and training for prisoners across a range of industries, and offers NZQA recognised training around the country in partnership with Polytechnics, Institutes of Technology and Industry Training Organisations.

“Our aim is to help prisoners find sustainable employment on release, reducing their risk of reoffending and ultimately making our communities safer,” says Robin.

ENDS

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