SDCS TO PARTNER WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO UNDERTAKE SPECIALIZED TRAINING

By Nicholas Kigondu

The State Department for Correctional Services is mulling collaborating with academic and research institutions to provide volunteer training for both correctional officers and offenders.

Speaking during a meeting with a team from Strathmore University, who were in her office to hand over a donation of stationery to be used in the training of offenders, Correctional Services Principal Secretary Dr. Salome Beacco said providing such specialized training especially on financial literacy will go a long way in reducing cases of recidivism among offenders.

“Such training, especially on areas such as basic budget planning tools and budgeting and saving would be invaluable for both prison staff and offenders,” she observed.

She said majority of the incarcerated persons are at the bottom of the economic pyramid adding that there is a co-relation between crime and low education levels. She said her department has embarked on a digitization programme, that once completed, will see all correctional facilities across the country connected to the internet that will allow for virtual learning.

  “There exists strong evidence indicating that enhancing the standard of education within our correctional facilities can be a game changer in efforts aimed at addressing the challenge of recidivism,” she said.

According to Luis Borrallo, the Director of the community service centre at Strathmore University, his organization remains committed to support the state department in its ongoing reforms targeting formal education within correctional facilities.

He said the university will be reaching out to other partners to support the cause of boosting formal education among offenders.

Among the items donated by the university included 10 cartons of exercise books, 5 cartons of chalk, 1 carton of oxford mathematical sets and 1 carton of ballpoint pens.