11.45 The majority of the prison population under the age of thirty has no qualifications and a significant proportion have problems with basic skills. The curriculum offered in prisons has become more narrowly instrumental in the last five years, with the changes in the administration of the Prison Services education programme. The need to balance the protection of privacy and securing effective continuing educational support for convicts leaving secure environments have left the educational strategies for ex-offenders poorly developed.

11.46 A particular problem for those serving custodial sentences, increased with the privatisation of prisoner services, is the interruption to their study programmes caused by their movement from one establishment to another. Lack of continuity is both disruptive and demoralising and does damage to the chances of learning whilst in prison making a contribution to their rehabilitation and circumstances when they eventually leave prison.

11.47 Those responsible for the provision and monitoring of Prison Education services should give particular attention to the needs of prisoners who move or leave prisons during the course of their learning programmes.

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