Training teachers and instructors to teach in Prisons/Detention Centres

Training teachers and instructors to teach in

Prisons/Detention Centres

Henk NuyttensTeacher ICT

Belgium Kingdom founded in 1830 Reformed into Federal State King = Head of State 3 official languages:

◦ Dutch: North part (6.000.000 citizens)◦ French: South (4.000.000 citizens)◦ German: Eastern part (100.000 citizens)

Brussels: capital of◦ Belgium, EU, Nato, ...◦ City of 1.000.000 citizens

Belgium: Very complex structure

Federal state: ◦ federal gouvernment◦ federal Parliament:

Senate Chambre des Représentants

3 communities with own parliament(s)◦ Flanders: Northern part: 1 gouvernment, 1 Parliament◦ Brussel: Center: 1 gouvernment, 1 Parliament◦ Wallonia: South Part: 2 communities, 2

parliaments◦ German: Eastern part: 1 gouvernment, 1

Parliament

Belgian Prisons – Federal Belgian Prisons owned by Federal state:

◦ Justice: courts, prison staff◦ Building & Maintenance Prison infrastructure

Social Support organised by Flemish Community1. Welfare2. Culture3. Sports4. Health care5. Employement6. Education

Prison Education: structure1. VOCVO: Flemish Community support Adult

Education2. Community Co-ordinator Prison Mechelen3. Education Co-ordinator Prison Mechelen4. School Community “Samen stromen”: Mechelen

Area5. CVO Crescendo: Schooldirector6. Teachers : ICT, languages, Economy

Prison detention in Belgium Number of Detention: avg 10.130 inmates

◦ 100 inmates on 100.000 citizens ◦ 4 % inmates are female◦ 40% in pre-detention◦ Realty 60 effective detentions on 100.000 citizens

Number of prisons: 30 over the whole country Closed Youth Prison: Everberg Serveral open youth detention centres

Prison of Mechelen

Prison of Mechelen Build in early 1830 Detention center for:

◦ Detention before trial: dossier in preparation or decission by Judge

◦ Short Detention < 3 years◦ All kinds of criminals◦ 80 inmates (recently 140 inmates - march 2010)

65 Staff & 20 Admin support Building in state of renovation since 2008

Prison of MechelenRecently Published

Living in a prison,

by Prison Guard Greta Stockfleth

Prison of Mechelen

Education for more than 10 years Personal mentors & individual courses =

voluntary Courses in classes:

◦ Languages, ◦ ICT, ◦ Painting,◦ Safety on the “workfloor”,◦ Detentions courses: anti-aggression, ◦ Dutch courses for foreigners (CBE)◦ JAIL TV: High School of Journalism

Prison of Mechelen - Education

Education for more than 8 years Last 5 years:

◦ due to infrastructure, small classes (max 8)◦ Limited courses: Basics computer, Word, Excel

Last years: larger multifunctional class◦ 12 desktops & 4 laptops, ◦ Beamer, ◦ Basics computer, Word, Excel, Video, Photoshop

Prison of Mechelen – ICT-education

Multi-functional class

Multi-functional class

Preparation: similar to normal school Except:

◦ No internet access, no e-platform◦ No possibility to take own material inside prison◦ Possibility to take copies of course material inside

prison

◦ Downgrading “Intellectual Level”

Prison of Mechelen – ICT-education

Courses:◦ Sessions of 40 hrs, except for Photoshop (60 hrs)◦ 9 hrs a week, short periods (max 4 weeks)◦ 3 hrs a course◦ Relax atmosphere, respect for all◦ No pre-selection◦ Free will, maximum cooperation & motivation◦ Interruption in case of absence without reason (max

2 times, 10%)◦ Speech of one member of Prison Guards Staff at

beginning of the cours: rules, code of conduct, inscription, …

Prison of Mechelen – ICT-education

Evaluation:◦ Permanent evaluation during courses◦ Practical exam at the end of each course◦ Debriefing with students

Reporting:◦ Written report of each course member at the end

of the session: behavior, cooperation, problems affiliated to detention, signals, ....

◦ Anytime in case of serious problems

Prison of Mechelen – ICT-education

Proclamation:◦ At the end of semester◦ Small celebration with all students of all classes◦ Inmate can invite one family member or friend

Drop Out:◦ Motivation◦ Transfert ◦ Work◦ Release◦ Punishment

Prison of Mechelen – ICT-education

Multi-functional class