Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Many prisoners have a negative view of education.
Recommendation
Many prisoners have a negative view of education. Incentives therefore have a part to play in encouraging prisoners to engage, or re-engage, with education. We recommend that the Ministry of Justice ensures that pay for education is equal to the pay for prison work, to ensure that prisoners do not lose out by choosing education. In order to qualify for the equal pay, prisoners must be able to demonstrate progress within their studies. We also recommend that the Government examines the potential of using Release on Temporary License (ROTL) as an incentive to encourage prisoners to engage with education. In order to qualify for the equal pay, prisoners must be able to demonstrate progress within their studies. We also recommend that the Government examines the potential of using Release on Temporary License (ROTL) as an incentive to encourage prisoners to engage with education. (Paragraph 28) 42 Not just another brick in the wall: why prisoners need an education to climb the ladder of opportunity Assessment of needs
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
We accept this recommendation in principle and intend to consult practitioners on the implications of any change to the current approach. Government Response: Not just another brick in the wall: why prisoners need an education 3 to climb the ladder of opportunity When prisoners become eligible for ROTL, governors must explain to them the sorts of behaviours expected of them to gain and maintain access to ROTL. Engagement with the regime, including education, is considered as part of this and we will consider how we can develop a culture of learning in prisons and demonstrate to prisoners that good engagement in education, particularly that which will support employment on release, will support applications for ROTL. Increasing the weighting of this factor, and directly linking educational attendance or achievement to temporary release as a reward, however, could be counterproductive. The essential criteria are whether the temporary release applied for will further the prisoner’s rehabilitation, and whether they can be safely released. As is demonstrated by our strengthened performance management metrics on prisoner attendance at education, we are keen to ensure that governors can take decisions as to how best to incentivise their prison population to engage with education and training.