Although the Malawi government introduced education program from primary to tertiary in prisons there is still a lot to be done especially on the issue to do with learning and teaching materials. Inmates at Zomba Central prison who are pursuing their studies said the biggest challenge they have is lack of materials which make it tough for them to study well.
Leonard Charles who is in standard 4 at Zomba central prison said that for one to fully concentrate in class there is need for the person to be health, this means that as they go to class without eating anything also affect they performance and appeals to the well wishers to assist them with porridge flour and also other materials.
Regardless of the challenges, the outcome of national examinations from the prison is so impressive. In this year’s recent released Malawi school certificate of education examination results indicates that out of 23 students who sat for the examination 19 have passed representing 83 percent of the pass rate.
Kondwani Mzumara, the education coordinator at the prison highlighted that one secret behind the great performance the results is that they do not keep those who are studying together with fellow prison but they have their own rooms which are quite and this allows them study easily.
On what happens when an inmate gets selected to continue his or her studies at the university whilst serving his sentence Mzumara said they have their own ways to deal with that.
“What we normally do in such cases we contact the high learning institutions to keep place for the student up until he finishes his sentence.” said Mr. Mzumara.
As the prison also accommodate women, one of the female inmates Prisca Tyson Mataule said they are benefiting a lot from vocational training offered like sawing.
On this year’s Junior Certificate of Education students who sat for the examination at the prison also passed with flying colors.
