Manawatu Prisoners are Design Graduates

Manawatu Prisoners are Design Graduates

Nine prisoners graduated from an introductory graphic design and computer graphic course in Manawatu Prison today.

The NCEA Level 2 Foundation Skills Design course was delivered by local training provider The Design School and covered drawing, design principles, creative thinking processes, critical thinking processes and computer graphics.

Manawatu Prison Director Andy Langley said the course is one of many programmes at the prison.

“As well as rehabilitation programmes, the prison offers a range of education and training courses that have literacy and numeracy skills embedded within the training.

“As a working prison, every eligible prisoner at Manawatu Prison is engaged in education, training, employment programmes or a constructive activity as part of a structured 40-hour week.

“The men who completed the course have gained skills that could help with their employment in the design industry or encourage them to take up further study,” he said.

It’s the first time the 24-week course has been held in the prison. To earn their qualification the men had to produce graphic design projects that showed their knowledge and aptitude of the subject. The men had to demonstrate design basics, identify design problems and solutions, use freehand sketching techniques, produce design ideas using computer graphics programmes and create a website.

The men can continue on to art and design programmes at higher levels including the Learning Connexion Diploma in Creativity, or on release, to another design programme offered by The Design School or a polytechnic.

Reducing re-offending is Corrections’ top priority and by helping prisoners to earn skills and qualifications, it could help them gain employment on release. Research shows that getting a sustainable job can reduce the likelihood of re-offending and help create safer communities.

Other training courses available at Manawatu Prison include the National Certificate in Hospitality Levels 2 - 4; National Certificate in Building, Construction, and Allied Trade Skills (BCATS) Level 2; Short Certificate in Carpentry Level 3; National Certificate in Infrastructure Works Level 2; National Certificate in Primary Industries (agriculture) Level 2.

ENDS

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