The Broken Lives: Countering Illiteracy's Influence

Barbara Deodat
IDCE/UG

     Full text: HTML
     Last modified: August 20, 2006
     Presentation date: 11/02/2006 4:15 PM in NT Trelawny
     (View Schedule)

Abstract
ABSTRACT

Theme: Achieving Development Goals
Sub-Theme: Collaboration
Topic: Partnership among educational providers, civil society and private industry
Presentation: Panel Discussion

The Institute of Distance and Continuing Education, University of Guyana, explores many different ways to work with adults. One effective way in promoting continuing education has been by forging partnerships among agencies and institutions for support and collaboration.

IDCE has forged a partnership with the Guyana Prison Service and PAHO and this collaborative effort has seen the manifestation of a specially designed Behaviour Change Communication Program for inmates in the Prison System.

The aim of this program is to help inmates
(a) build self-esteem
(b) learn about sexuality and reproductive health
(c) learn about gender issues
(d) erase the negative messages in their head and replace it with
positive messages
(e) commit to behaviour change

In this collaborative effort, the Guyana Prison Service provides the inmates and the venue for training; PAHO has provided equipment and funding for training; IDCE provides materials, tutoring and certification.

The lessons learnt were that
(a) a great number of inmates were either illiterate or semi-illiterate
(b) illiteracy (among inmates) produced other problems within the
system
(c) there was need for literacy and numeracy programs in the prisons
(d) behaviour change communication program was really needed in
the prison.

The outcome of this program highlighted the need for other forms of educational programs among inmates.