Head of centre at Tswelopele Correctional centre Audry Qengwa, regional commissioner Subashini Moodley, the best matric achiever at Tswelelopele correctional centre, acting area commissioner Kimberley, Rika Botes, deputy regional commissioner, Takalani Mashamba and Tswelopele school principal Judy Ndlazi. Picture supplied
INMATES in the Northern Cape achieved a 100 percent pass rate in the national senior certificate examinations.
Area communication manager for the Department of Correctional Services, Nomvethe Siphiwo said inmates in the Northern Cape wrote their final exams where they achieved 11 distinctions in total.
“Six inmates passed with a Bachelor’s degree pass, six diplomas and two with higher certificate passes.”
He indicated that the Covid-19 pandemic remained a major challenge for the Class of 2021.
Siphiwo added that the Department of Correctional Services did not fund offender’s tertiary studies.
“We however encourage their parents and loved ones to assist them.”
The regional commissioner Subashini Moodley at the awards ceremony for the Free State and Northern Cape region that took place at the Groenpunt mess hall in Bloemfontein on January 25, encouraged offenders to enrol for schooling and skills development programmes offered by the department.
“The Department of Correctional Services has a full basket of services aimed at ensuring safe custody of offenders, rehabilitation and reintegration back into their respective communities. Central to these services are education and training programmes aimed at equipping offenders with skills and expertise from which they will fend for themselves upon their release from prison.”
She added that the department’s social reintegration offices provided support for offenders after they were released, to enrol for tertiary education or find employment.
“Those who will still be serving their sentences will be given the necessary academic support to further develop themselves. The Tswelopele Secondary School that was established in Kimberley 2013 registered its first Grade 12 class in 2015. It has been producing sterling results since its inception. In 2018, the school obtained 95 percent and 90, 1 percent in 2019. In 2021 a total of 14 Grade 12 learners sat for their final matric examinations where they passed.”
Moodley indicated that the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola intended to make education compulsory for all offenders of school going age.