For decades now, wrongdoers and others have found themselves in prison for all sorts of offences.
During this time, they were reduced to manual labour for the duration of their confinement. However, over the last 20 years, things have started to look up, with more inmates allowed to reform their lives through education.
Some of the prisons have set up schools where a section of the inmates can access formal education under the universal primary education and universal secondary education programmes.
This is a commendable move, since the only education available in the past constituted something akin to vocational education, where the inmates were tasked to learn handcrafting skills. While these skills were useful, an additional asset such as formal education is invaluable in determining how an inmate lives their life outside jail.
There have been reports of people, who were previously convicted of capital offences, but who used their time in prison to study and improve their skills, becoming university graduates. On their release, these people were able to reform and find good jobs.
The sad reality is that not all prisons, or correctional facilities as they are formally known, have educational facilities. More resources should be invested in providing these facilities to all inmates. That way, those who stay on the outside are convinced that apart from atoning for their sins, the inmates are also improving their lives literally, by acquiring formal education.
It may appear like a huge cost to pay, but the benefits of an improved society are immeasurable, when calculated over time.
There is an immeasurable benefit to society if a convicted pickpocket is allowed an opportunity to become a teacher on their release. Their ability to mold future Ugandans into responsible citizens would be commendable.
school@observer.ug