tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post3600407822048791890..comments2023-10-25T09:49:43.089+01:00Comments on BEN'S PRISON BLOG - Lifer On The Loose: More Educationprisonerbenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923205052778958118noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-38541779978237067582010-04-15T13:39:17.229+01:002010-04-15T13:39:17.229+01:00In fairness, I’d like to point out that some of th...In fairness, I’d like to point out that some of the funding that charities like Prisoners Education Trust provide for education for prisoners comes from Government. This charity administers access to funding for initial OU study on behalf of the Government Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), and working closely with prison education staff and OU staff. The funding available is limited but is able to cover around 800 prisoner students each year, around 83% of those who applied. We also have some funding for courses such as A levels that comes from BIS and we’re glad to work in partnership with them.<br /><br />This charity also raises voluntary funds to support over 1000 other prisoners each year – and we regret that we have to turn down many worthwhile applications because funds are limited. Ben is right that finding funding for postgraduate study is hardest of all – it is an amazing achievement to get this far inside prison.<br /><br />We believe it makes sense to enable access to the right courses for all prisoners who wish to learn. And we strongly agree with Ben that the role of the OU in changing prisoners lives is worthy of both research and celebration. When the inevitable discussions about cuts in public spending take place, it is hugely important that this vital area is not cut back.Pat Jones. Director, Prisoners Education Trusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10144998370686326304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-74626496714714421012010-04-04T08:59:38.383+01:002010-04-04T08:59:38.383+01:00Ah, yes Ben, education for educations sake, it so ...Ah, yes Ben, education for educations sake, it so should be a right just as we in breath air, drink water that falls from the sky, fruit from the trees, vegetables from the earth, just as we have a right to live life so too should we have a right to education just as an end in itself, as you say.<br /><br />This is being eroded everywhere and it started in the 1980's with Thatchers Tory government and has shamefully been continued by new Labour, and it is utterly rotten, especially because those in privaledged positions in society have a nice neat private education system for themselves and their own children. What utter swines they are especially since they are and would be nothing without the sweat and toil ordinary people put into making the world go round, our 'masters', just take take take from us, sucking our blood like vampires. They are nothing but thieves.Sophie Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04336695401529252201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3184990032979540229.post-52893402682054745042010-04-03T14:11:01.484+01:002010-04-03T14:11:01.484+01:00My own experience as a 'teacher' in prison...My own experience as a 'teacher' in prisons bears out every word Ben says. Okay, so it's just a pov; I concede that. I used to prepare people for exams in 'literacy' in which they didn't have to write a single word -it was all multi-choice. Rather than elicit a love of the written word, my task was to accessorise people with apostrophes which they would never use (though they did get briefly very expert at apostrophising every letter s they saw). I watched as art was strangled (no 'employment pathway'). <br /><br />It's a disgrace. And since I am sure that some of this blog's readers are prison teachers, I wonder what defence they would make of the wretched lot they've settled for. Let's hear you. <br /><br />I've now got to type the word 'sicken' into the verification box. It seems to have developed psychic powers!Charles Cowlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06757185376546920527noreply@blogger.com