NEWS RELEASE

5 October 2007

Praise for prison instructors on World Teachers’ Day

Teachers with a difference were acknowledged today by the Department of Corrections. World Teachers Day celebrates the hard work teachers put in, and for these teachers it’s harder still.

The Department of Corrections acting National Manager Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE) Win McDonald, praised the efforts of the 265 CIE Instructors who provide training and work skills to prisoners throughout the country’s 20 prisons.

“Working with prisoners with some of the lowest literacy and numeracy rates in New Zealand, Corrections Inmate Employment (CIE) Instructors help many prisoners turn their lives around, “Mrs McDonald said.

“Training is delivered via industry based training and through the 140 CIE prison based, business-like industries.

“In the 2006-2007 financial year, 20,350 NZQA credits were delivered to more than 2,000 prisoners in industries such as engineering, catering, laundry, horticulture, farming, joinery and forestry.”

The credits are accumulated to achieve National Certificates, for example a Level 2 Hospitality Certificate in Cookery is made up of 60 credits and a National Certificate Level 2 in Horticulture is made up of 70 credits.

Mrs McDonald noted that a CIE Instructor’s job is challenging as they are not only adult educators, trainers and assessors but must also take on a custodial role.

“CIE Instructors train prisoners to improve their work habits, skills and experience within a business-like environment, increasing prisoners’ chances of obtaining sustainable employment on release,” Mrs McDonald said.

The last prison census conducted in 2003, identified that 52% of prisoners had no formal qualifications and only 45% were in paid work before going to prison. Research indicates that a prisoner is less likely to re-offend if they are able to find meaningful work when they are released from prison.

CIE assesses market trends to identify industries that require qualified workers within the geographical areas that prisoners are likely to be released. They then provide training and employment opportunities within these types of industries to upskill prisoners. The aim is to increase prisoners’ chances of obtaining meaningful employment upon release while helping to ease some of the regional skills shortages.

CIE Catering and Laundry Instructor, Robert Bowers, has been teaching at Christchurch Prisons for three years and agreed that there is a difference that occurs with prisoners once they take up employment or training.

“When prisoners receive qualifications you can’t get the smile off their faces, as they take pride in their achievements,” Robert said.

“I find the prisoners’ morale, motivation and interaction with each other increases as they now have something that is structured and that they can work towards.”

If you are interested in passing on your skills and becoming a CIE Instructor, contact CIE on 0800 172 776 (0800 1 pass on) or email passon@corrections.govt.nz.

ENDS

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