Programmes Offer Second Chance for Prisoners

Otago Polytechnic has achieved a New Zealand first by enrolling prisoners says former Otago Corrections Facility Programme Manager Sandy Stoddart. 

Polytechnic stuff have been coordinating a programme which teaches computing skills to Dunedin prisoners, an initiative which is hoped to reduce recidivism and give prisoners the confidence to succeed in the outside world once they are released.

“I discussed the idea with the Polytechnic who also offered released prisoners fee scholarships and support to help them finish the qualification they’d started while behind bars,” Stoddart says.

Otago Polytechnic’s Computing Lecturer Gary Patterson put the Otago Corrections Facilities state-of-the-art computing suite to good use by teaching Levels Two and Three in Computing and Level Three in Business and Administration Computing to two classes of prisoners.

“Right from the beginning we knew this was a huge task because we have prisoners that can’t read or write,” says Patterson. “However, in saying that, we put them on computers anyway because it assisted them with their literacy and innumeracy needs.”

After a few months the popularity of the courses took off.  To help meet the high demand Otago Polytechnic provided the Corrections Facility with some of their old computers to be used as a second computing suite.

Stoddart says, “Prisoners have completed 132 computer unit standards since September last year. This is an incredible achievement as some of these guys had never even switched a computer on.”

“To log on to the system they’ve got to hit the keys, they’ve got to spell words with the keys. Computing gives their learning another dimension.”

Six prisoners have already achieved a Level Two in Computing and three are progressing towards a Level Three in Business and Administration in Computing.

One prisoner who is completing a mixture of papers in Level Two and Three is enjoying the programmes and taking part for a number of reasons.

“I’m learning things I didn’t know much about while on the outside. I used to be more into computer games back then. But now I’m keen to learn more about what’s behind computers and how the computer industry works.

“It keeps you updated with what’s happening in the outside world.”

Once released he’s keen to continue the programme and one day hopes to “work in the IT service side of things repairing computers.”

Stoddart believes this is a ‘win-win’ situation for all involved. 

“We have guys in there now who are in education most of the day, everyday. It has been a great collaborative effort between the Polytechnic and the Corrections Facility to make it happen.”