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Enhancing Prison Education in Brussels: A Tailored Approach for Inmates’ Success

The Brussels' prison education program has evolved significantly, providing vital learning opportunities for adults with limited formal education in Sint-Gillis, Vorst, and Berckendael. Established in 1988, this state-funded initiative offers modular, certified courses in literacy, numeracy, ICT, and languages. With a focus on encouraging positive change, it aims to empower inmates through tailored education. Since 2009, the program has expanded remarkably, fostering hope and preparing inmates for reintegration into society by promoting skills that mirror those outside prison walls.

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Enhancing Prison Education in Brussels: A Tailored Approach for Inmates’ Success

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  1. Education in Brussels’ prisons EPEA Malta conferenceContribution Wim Ipers

  2. She says: ‘by the tone of your last letter, you should get out more

  3. Sint-Gillis

  4. Sint-Gillis

  5. Vorst

  6. Berckendael

  7. Sint-Gillis/Vorst/Berckendael

  8. in a nutshell • 1 of 29 Belgian centres for ‘basic’ education, state-funded • Target group: adults with limited formal education • Different modular and certified courses: Dutch for foreigners (NT2)/Literacy and numeracy in Dutch (NT1)/Basic maths/ICT/basic English and French/social topics • Created in 1988, over 2000 students in 2011 • Very extensive network

  9. in prisons in a nutshell • In Sint-Gillis since 1997, in Vorst since 1999, in Berckendael since 2012 • Till 2004 only literacy courses • Long strikes paralyzed work in Sint-Gillis from 2004 to 2007, Vorst courses continued • Since 2009 prison education coordinator: enormous progress in number and scope of courses • Other schools now present, Brusselleer still pioneer

  10. Some figures • Statistieken pdf-file bureaublad 1997-2004

  11. Some more figures

  12. what I did and do • since 1998: literacy in Sint-Gillis, since 2001 also in Vorst • From 2004-2007: literacy only in Vorst • since 2009: literacy and communication in Sint-Gillis (In 2006 and 2008: theatre in Vorst)

  13. Brusselleers‘ focus • Each and every individual: tailor-made courses • Small is beautiful • We are not people behind bars • you are in, but will one day be out again

  14. basic approach inmates • encourage, encourage, encourage • make hidden wants and needs surface, turn negative choice into positive • make participate and experience, not absorb passively • make education inside resemble education outside, normalisation • awaken positive potential

  15. basic approach prison officers • some education every day keeps the prison/punishment away • education = work: equal pay • prisoners/prison officers: and/and, not or/or (well-trained prison officers ease release)

  16. Respect (fromre-spicere: to thoroughly look, to look again)

  17. main obstacles • inmates don’t vote • intricate decision-making process immobilizes • disciplinary measures, imprisoned in prison • high turnover: short, shorter, too short (= detention prison, not prison for convicts) • Understaffing/underpayment=undermotivation=resentment

  18. main challenges • better liaise with post-release education • improve relation to employment market (Actiris’ vocational training) • attune to individual needs, curricula as tailor-made as possible • actively promote 'inreach’ (families+community) • broaden horizon, improve skills teachers

  19. Brussels’ future prison

  20. Thank you very much! Grazzi!

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