Twenty-three inmates at the Bordelais Correctional Facility (BCF) wrote the regional CXC examinations this year.

BCF Director Mr. Hilary Herman said that the exams were all written at the General Proficiency level. The pass rate was over 90 percent.

According to Mr. Herman, the Education Department worked diligently with the inmates toward their success. This year, five inmates wrote the English Language exam. There were four passes: one Distinction, one Grade 2, and two Grade 3s. Five inmates wrote the Mathematics exam. They all succeeded with two Grade 1s and three Grade 3s. Five inmates wrote the P.O.B exam. They all succeeded with one Grade 1, three Grade 2s, and one Grade 3. Eight inmates wrote the Social Studies exam. There were six passes: four Grade 2s, and two Grade 3s. Two were unsuccessful.
The BCF’s education program comprises of both remedial classes and CXC classes in English, Mathematics, Social Studies and Principles of Business. Officials say the inmates have been performing well, and have scored healthy pass rates annually.

Bordelais inmates have also benefitted from a sports program under the guidance of an on-site sports instructor employed through the National Initiative to Create Employment (NICE) program. Sporting activities include football, table tennis and indoor board games.

Earlier this year, the BCF hosted an Inter-Unit 10/10 Cricket Competition on the Facility’s courtyard. Program Manager Casilda Severin said the cricket competition encouraged team spirit and teamwork. The prison’s administration is hoping that the competition can become a staple on the annual Sports and Recreation program of activities.

Efforts are also underway to revamp vocational training for the female units. Mrs. Severin said that officers have completed an assessment and pinpointed the areas that need to be addressed. The areas outlined include Anger Management, Conflict Resolution, Self-Esteem, Parenting, Customer Service, and Interviewing Skills. In addition, vocational courses such as Sewing, Interior Decorating, Craft Making, Hair Dressing and Nail Technician Training have been identified.

“What we need now are people who are willing to come forward and share their time and expertise at the Facility,” she said. “The inmates’ offenses as well as their lack of skills need to be addressed in order to bring about some form of change. Rehabilitation focuses on assisting an inmate to become a better person, but that change will not happen without interventions, opportunities, and public support.”

Earlier this year, an appeal for donations to the Bordelais Correctional Facility’s (BCF) library program was met with overwhelming public support.

The library program is aimed at assisting with rehabilitation by allowing inmates to use their time productively while sharpening their literacy skills.

Mr. Herman expressed gratitude for the outpouring of public support, and noted that the injection of additional literature into the Facility’s library encouraged inmates to read, place value in education and literacy, and cultivate good library habits.

Prisoner rehabilitation and re–entry programs are standard aspects of the operations of Correctional Facilities worldwide.