Inmates, Prison Officers to benefit from CSEC course

Inmates and Prison Officers at various locations across Guyana will now have the opportunity to pursue Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. This initiative, spearheaded by the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) in collaboration with the Education Ministry is part of ongoing efforts to enhance inmate rehabilitation and professional development.
The CSEC programme, officially launched on Thursday, will focus on five core subjects – Mathematics, English A, Social Studies, Human and Social Biology, and Electronic Document Preparation and Management (EDPM).
At the launch ceremony, Acting Deputy Director of Prisons, Kevin Pilgrim, emphasised that the programme aligns with the GPS’s mission of equipping inmates with technical and vocational skills to support their reintegration into society.
“The basic philosophy of this approach is that all persons deserve access to higher education, and one’s incarceration status should not be an obstacle to that opportunity,” Pilgrim said. “The CXC programme fully aligns with the service’s strategic vision of preparing inmates for the smooth reintegration into society.”
He further explained, “The Prison Service is committed to providing opportunities designed to address different aspects of an offender’s life to reduce the likelihood of reoffending and to promote successful reintegration into society.”

Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Volika Jaikishun, described the programme as a major step toward achieving equity in education delivery. “We want the incarcerated persons to have equal opportunities as other persons from the outside.”
In addition to the CSEC programme, a Public Speaking and Effective Communication course for prison officers was also launched. This programme will be facilitated by Clarke’s Productions.
These educational initiatives represent a significant step forward in the GPS’s commitment to fostering rehabilitation and professional growth for both inmates and officers.
This move aligns with the GPS’s broader objectives, as earlier this year, Acting Director of Prisons Nicklon Elliot announced plans to raise the entry requirements for recruits to enhance the quality of services. Elliot emphasised the importance of a solid secondary education as a prerequisite for joining the GPS.
“We are looking to revise it [the entry requirements]” to attract competent candidates and ensure their retention, Elliot explained. While details were not disclosed, it is anticipated that qualifications from the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) will be included.