Nine inmates of the Manhyia Local Prison in Kumasi have been awarded scholarships by Jackson University College to pursue a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) programme through virtual learning.
The student-inmates, aged between 26 and 39, are currently in their second year of study, majoring in Basic Education for Upper Primary. They attend virtual lectures on weekends but face serious challenges, including weak internet connectivity and inadequate learning resources at the facility.
Deputy Director of Prisons and Officer-in-Charge of the Manhyia Prisons, Hannah Hilda Ewoame, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during a visit that engaging inmates in education was vital for their reformation and reintegration into society after serving their time.
“Time is an essential commodity in prison. It’s important that inmates engage in productive activities that will benefit them in the future,” she said.
She emphasized that prisons were not only for confinement but also for rehabilitation. Formal education, she noted, was a key component of that rehabilitation process.
Mrs. Ewoame explained that after various interactions with inmates, it became clear that many were school dropouts who had a desire to return to education.
“Currently, we only have virtual tertiary education in the prison. We are looking forward to establishing Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS) as well,” she disclosed.
She called on philanthropists and education stakeholders to help raise structures within the prison yard to serve as classrooms, citing the lack of space as a major limitation.
One of the student-inmates, who has served eight years across two facilities, said his decision to pursue education in prison was to make his time behind bars meaningful.
“I don’t want my time here to be wasted. I believe I’m making the right choice. If I’m discharged in the next two years, I am willing to teach in any government school,” he said.
However, he noted several setbacks: limited furniture, poor internet connectivity, lack of educational materials, and the absence of essential equipment like projectors and sound boxes. He revealed that all nine students currently rely on a single laptop to attend lectures.
Due to their restricted movement, the students are unable to participate in the Supported Teaching in School (STS) programme—a requirement that gives student teachers real-life classroom experience.
“At this point, we’re not bothered if pupils identify us as prisoners. We need the experience to become qualified teachers,” he added.
He also appealed to the government to provide allowances for academic resources and urged telecom companies to support the prison with stable internet service to improve teaching and learning.
The Manhyia Local Prison currently houses 167 male inmates in six shared cells.
GNA