NO matter where a child is, even if he or she has been placed in a correctional centre, the Education Ministry will make access to quality education available to all nationwide.
That was the commitment given by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek when she officiated the closing ceremony of the Hijrah Kasih Programme 2023 at the Puncak Alam Correctional Centre on Oct 11.
Integrity Schools, located inside correctional centres nationwide, is a step towards ensuring no child misses out on learning, she said.
Integrity, she said, is a crucial element in the provision of humane education, which nurtures compassion and respect for living beings.
“A large component of humane education is accessibility. This means that wherever our children are, they will still be able to get an education.
“Even if they are in our correctional centres, they will have access to knowledge in our Integrity Schools,” she said, adding that plans are underway to bring technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to the correctional centres.
The proposal would be presented to Cabinet for approval in the near future, she said.
“TVET is among the priorities of the country.
“Youths in correctional centres should also have exposure and access to TVET, if we are to produce skilled workers with the expertise to meet the needs of the nation,” she said.
And, to make sure that Integrity School students do not feel sidelined, counselling sessions are carried out at all correctional centres, she said.
Better tomorrow: An inmate sharing his hopes and dreams.
As a former lawyer with over 20 years of experience, Fadhlina said she has visited prisons and observed first hand the need for reforms — a mission close to her heart.
“Prison reform was recently raised in Parliament. It shows the unity government’s commitment to issues related to the reform of prisons and detention centres that need significant improvements, and this includes education,” she said.
The ministry, she added, was in the midst of bringing more teachers on board to address the issue of teacher shortage in Integrity Schools.
“The shortage is not critical. Interviews are ongoing to hire teachers. Our efforts to educate the inmates is paying off,” she said.
The inmates’ 2022 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results, Fadhlina noted, were “amazing” with candidates achieving 100% passes in all 11 Integrity Schools nationwide.
This, she said, is an increase of 0.44% from the 2021 SPM results.
A total of 86 Integrity School students sat for the SPM 2022, Fadhlina said, expressing hope that Integrity School students would continue to perform well in their examinations.
“It shows that these students have huge potential and I am very proud of them,” she added.
Speaking about the event, she said the Hijrah Kasih Programme 2023, is for Muslim students but there are similar character building and value instilling programmes being conducted for youths of other faiths.
The ministry, she said, emphasises human kindness through the formation of manners, morals and integrity.
All its programmes are aimed at character development and strengthening a student’s identity, including the Hijrah Kasih Programme 2023.
Prison Department deputy commissioner-general (Security and Correctional) Datuk Abdul Aziz Abdul Razak, in his speech, said teachers have been present in prisons and correctional facilities for decades.
“In 1972, religious teachers under the then Education Department, were stationed in the Prison Department.“After seeing that there is a dire need for teachers, the Integrity School and the Henry Gurney Schools were established in 2008,” he added.
He said he was impressed with the education fraternity’s commitment to the national education philosophy.
“There is emphasis on the development and formation of civilised students with high morals and integrity, while honouring human dignity, to produce good and intelligent children,” he said.
Parents, he added, play a big role in guiding and supporting these youths so that they can get their lives back on track and become useful individuals.
He reminded the inmates that rehabilitation requires discipline.“I am confident that with continuous effort and cooperation from various parties, children who have made mistakes can change.
“Forgive these youths so they can correct their past mistakes,” he said, adding that he hopes when the time comes for them to be reintegrated into the community, they will not be shunned.“Give them the opportunity to prove to the community that they are capable of change and can also work together to contribute to the development of the country,” he said.
To the inmates, Fadhlina said, “It is okay to make mistakes but everytime you make a mistake, you have to get back up. Parents, they need your help.”
Besides Integrity Schools, she said the ministry has many types of schools built specifically to ensure access to education for all.
These include the School in Hospital and the Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih (see infographics).
There are also schools that adopt special models to cater to underserved communities such as the Nine Year Comprehensive School (K9) for Orang Asli children.
When I came here, it was traumatic but I focused on my studies to try and bury those negative feelings. I will be sitting for my SPM in January 2024. There used to be more of us here but some have been released so now only three of will be sitting for the exams together. History and Bahasa Melayu are my favourite subjects. The teachers have been helping us prepare. Sometimes we even approach them for extra lessons. I find studying here less stressful compared to being ‘out there’. Teachers can give us one-on-one guidance and this makes it easier for us to learn. Before this, I used to be very ‘social’. I was always staying out late. I was playful and a Mat Rempit. I did not want to study. In a way, being here has been helpful because now, I focus more on my studies. When I am released, I really hope to get a job or to further my studies. — Ahmad, 18
Being in an Integrity School has been good because I can concentrate better. There are so few of us in the class so it is like going for home tuition. We are given more attention. The teachers also give us extra classes after school has finished. In fact, when it is the weekend, we look forward to Monday so that we can go to class. We are the opposite of students in normal schools who are always waiting for the weekend to come. I failed my History in the SPM and did not get my certificate. I will be sitting for six subjects and am targeting five As next year.Hopefully I can pass History this time around. My dream is to further my studies. — Abhi, 22
Our schools
Integrity Schools and Henry Gurney Schools
> Young prisoners are given the opportunity to study at the Integrity School.
> Juvenile offenders are placed at the Henry Gurney School.
> These schools are meant to give young offenders a place and a second chance to rebuild their future.
> Aims: Improve discipline and strengthen the morals of young offenders; help eradicate illiteracy through reading, counting and writing activities; provide opportunities for young offenders to start and continue schooling; and to cultivate interest in learning and to convince students that education can guarantee a better future.
> It is the Prison Department’s responsibility, as stated in Regulation 151, Prison Regulations 2000, to provide these youths with appropriate education and skills before they return to society.
School in Hospital (SDH)
> Learning in a fun and flexible way.
> It is indirectly one of the therapies that can help facilitate the healing process for the student.
> Aims: Provide educational services to students with health problems; provide formal and structured continuous education in a conducive environment; provide support and stimulation to students to continue learning; and promote normal psychosocial growth and help in the healing process.
> There are 17 SDH in 11 states operating since 2011.
Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih
> A special school established to fulfill the aspirations of the national education system and of students inline with Unesco’s “Education for All” concept.
> Began operations in Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur, on Aug 19, 2013.
> Aims: Provide access to formal education in a conducive environment for street and marginalised children in the city; prevent students from getting involved with drugs/alcohol, sexual activity, and gangsterism; give them love and access to formal education; end the difficult life legacy they were born into; provide an avenue and opportunities to improve the quality of education and produce human capital according to the individual student’s capabilities.
> Accepts students from preschool to upper secondary levels.
> Students comprise: Children who face social problems; undocumented children; dropouts; and orphans.
