Need Assessment Of Inmates Of Prisons Through Distance Education

Abstract

To meet the educational needs of inmates, educational scholars of the world have attempted numerous strategies and interventions designs to facilitate learning and to improve achievement. The real function of a prison is to help develop better citizens, not just better inmates. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the educational needs of inmate’s prisons. The objective of study was to assess the educational needs of inmates of prisons through distance education. The sample of the study comprised of 57 inmates of graduation/master level available in the jail at the time of survey adopting cluster technique. Data collected through questionnaires was tabulated and descriptively analyzed according to 5 point Likert scale. With the help of summary obtained from Likert scale analysis, mean was calculated. The study revealed that majority of inmates was interested in further education above their obtained level. It was concluded that the inmates give too much importance to education. It was recommended that non-formal wing of Ministry of Education may include prisons while allocating funds for non-formal education and establishment of non-formal basic education schools in prisons. It was further suggested for Allama Iqbal Open University to extend its facilities for prisons to meet his motto “the education at door step”.