More inmates sit Leaving Cert exams
Prisoners will be taking their Leaving Cert exams this week
A total of 117 prisoners are to embark on Leaving Cert exams this week - an increase of almost 50% on last year.
Male and female inmates across the country have been studying for a variety of subjects under the guidance of prison education units.
A further 161 prisoners are sitting Junior Cert papers, while around 600 are estimated to be taking part in FETAC (Further Education Training and Awards Council) courses.
Each prisoner is assessed to identify particular strengths and weaknesses before an individual education plan is agreed on.
Subjects range from traditional qualifications in English, maths and science to courses on diet and nutrition, technical drawing and caring for children.
An Irish Prison Service (IPS) spokesman said: "The aim of educationalists in working with each individual prisoner is to create and establish an appetite for learning which will facilitate their rehabilitation while in prison and also facilitate their re-entry into the family unit and society.
"Pre-release courses are an important part of the rehabilitative process within prisons and the education team are centrally involved in the division and delivery of such programmes to the prison population."
In 2009, 81 prisoners sat Leaving Cert exams and 149 sat Junior Cert exams.
Education units are a partnership between the IPS, vocational education committees (VECs) and the Department of Education and Science.
