Prison Education, Seventh Report of Session 2004-05: House of Commons Papers 2004-05, 114-I. Vol. I Report, Together with Formal Minutes Book

In light of the transfer of responsibility for prison education to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), the Committee's report examines the provision of education and training in prisons, including the overall strategy for prison education, delivery structures at national, regional and local levels, programme contents in comparison to external standards, and barriers to delivery across the wider prison regime. Findings include that current provision is unacceptable in terms of quantity and quality of provision, and a fundamental shift in approach is required. Although there has been an increase in resources available, in 2004 on average only a third of prisoners had access to prison education at any one time. The Committee highlights the need for an overarching strategy and higher priority to be given to prison education, based on recognition of its role in helping to reduce recidivism through rehabilitation, and suited to meet the needs of individual prisoners to ensure they have a real alternative to crime on release.Read More