Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Accepted in Part
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 summary AI-generated
The government accepts the recommendation in principle and intends to consult practitioners on the implications of any change to the current approach and consider how they can develop a culture of learning in prisons. However, they do not commit to equal pay for education or directly linking educational attendance or achievement to temporary release as a reward.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted in Part
We reject this recommendation. We accept the principle that governors should set pay rates that encourage engagement with education and expect that new KPIs for prison education will encourage governors to review pay rates. However, as set out in Prison Service Order 4460 (Prisoners’ Pay), governors already have the necessary freedom to set local pay rates to reflect their prisoner population needs, type of prison and regime priorities, and the jobs / educational / vocational training that are available. We do not propose to set additional rules on pay which governors must follow.
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