10,739 BJMP inmates earn basic ed diplomas

MANILA, Philippines — Some 10,739 inmates of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) have completed their elementary and high school education while in detention, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The prisoners finished their basic education through the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System (ALS), a parallel education program that offers a practical alternative to traditional classroom-based learning, the DILG said in a statement.

READ: Learning behind bars

‘Meaningful rehabilitation’

The ALS helps individuals without access to formal schooling by providing flexible learning opportunities through both nonformal and informal education.

Another 107 detainees also earned their college degrees through the Tertiary Education Behind Bars Program, a joint initiative with the Commission on Higher Education. An additional 720 prisoners are currently enrolled in various degree programs.

The BJMP said it is working to expand its higher education efforts by forging more partnerships with universities and colleges nationwide.

To prepare inmates for employment after release, the government is also providing livelihood and technical training.

In partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and civil society organizations, 112,707 prisoners have completed courses in carpentry, electronics, welding, arts and crafts, and small-scale entrepreneurship.

The DILG said it will continue to invest in education and livelihood programs to help inmates reintegrate into society as “reformed and productive citizens” after their release. /cb