Learnin' Behind Bars: How Inmates in Saxony-Anhalt Are Elevating Their Game
Incarcerated individuals prepare for school-leaving tests, along with vocational education, remote learning sessions - Incarcerated individuals appealing for educational prospects, vocational training, and remote learning opportunities.
Throw those jailhouse prejudices out the window! In Saxony-Anhalt, prisoners are hitting the books and honing their skills to earn school leaving certificates and complete vocational training. Last year, a staggering 28 inmates bagged a secondary or intermediate school leaving certificate, while 22 successfully completed an initial vocational training or retraining, as reported by the Ministry of Justice in Magdeburg on request.
Education is the new buzzword in the juvenile detention center in Raßnitz: 13 inmates earned their secondary school leaving certificate, and 9 others snagged an intermediate school leaving certificate. Over at the biggest prison in Burg near Magdeburg, five inmates grabbed that coveted secondary school leaving certificate, and one picked up an intermediate one. The Ministry reveals that exams for school leaving certificates are still going strong this year, with no registrations for vocational qualifications received yet.
At the juvenile detention center in Raßnitz, 20 prisoners have proven their worth as skilled workers: two transformed into carpenters, five turned into construction tradespeople, and four graduated in metalworking. In fact, a trainee in the field of metalworking even nabbed the "Best Apprentice" award from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
Distance learning is also on the cards for one inmate.
On the vocational front, retraining is a priority in the prisons in Burg and Halle, with eleven periods of retraining being completed: as warehousemen, wood mechanics, or construction tradespeople. One student among the 1,460 prisoners in the state is learning a new trade, but ain't nobody spilling the beans about their field of study yet.
Minister Weidinger: Forging Paths to a Crime-Free Future
Saxony-Anhalt's Minister of Justice, Franziska Weidinger (CDU), said, "Education in the penal system is more than just cramming knowledge. It's a vital cog in the rehabilitation machine, providing inmates with a chance to reorient themselves." These programs are not just about acquiring skills and knowledge; they're about instilling hope and self-confidence in prisoners. "Education blasts open doors for a life unburdened by crime: that's a win for every individual and society," added Weidinger.
In the juvenile detention center in Raßnitz, not only are inmates focusing on education and self-development, but they are also actively pursuing vocational training in various fields such as carpentry, construction, and metalworking. This training is part of their personal growth and reorientation, as outlined by Saxony-Anhalt's Minister of Justice, Franziska Weidinger, and contributes to their goal of a crime-free future. Furthermore, online education and learning are increasingly becoming available options for prisoners, as demonstrated by one inmate who is currently distance learning.
