A new group of inmates from the Makeni Male and Female Correctional Centres graduated on Saturday with diploma and certificate qualifications under an education partnership between the Sierra Leone Correctional Service (SLCS) and the University of Makeni (UniMak).
The graduation forms part of an ongoing memorandum of understanding between UniMak and the correctional service aimed at providing higher education opportunities to inmates while they serve their sentences.
Correctional officials said the initiative is designed to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners by equipping them with knowledge and skills that could help them rebuild their lives after release.
Through the programme, inmates are able to enrol in diploma and certificate courses offered by UniMak, allowing them to pursue academic qualifications during incarceration.
Authorities say the education initiative also seeks to reduce repeat offending by preparing inmates for productive roles in society.
“The programme is intended to provide inmates with practical knowledge and skills that will support their reintegration and enable them to contribute meaningfully to national development,” an SLCS official said during the ceremony.
The UniMak Prison Education Programme has been expanding in recent years and is regarded by correctional authorities as a key component of their rehabilitation strategy.
For the inmates and correctional officers who graduated, the ceremony represented more than an academic achievement, symbolising hope and a renewed sense of purpose.
SLCS officials say education programmes within correctional facilities are intended to strengthen inmates’ critical thinking abilities and problem-solving skills, helping them initiate positive change after their release.
The University of Makeni partnership is one of several rehabilitation initiatives currently being implemented by the Sierra Leone Correctional Service across the country.
