EDUCATION CAN LIBERATE US

BETHAL - The Department of Correctional Services, Bethal Management Area, has forged and maintained relationships with numerous stakeholders to ensure that the right to access to education becomes a reality. This was attested by a series of activities that have occurred since the beginning of this month to observe Human Rights, particularly, the right to access to education as enshrine in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Section 29 (1).

It was evident through an initiative of inviting the University of South Africa (UNISA) to conduct a workshop session to assist with information about Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and other means of accessing higher education institutions for correctional officials to further their studies and attain academic qualifications. It happened on 12 March 2024, when a delegation of RPL coordinators from various colleges of University of South Africa (UNISA) visited Bethal Management Area. They were from the colleges of Corrections Department, Education, Human Science, Law (School of Criminal Justice) and Marketing.

This happened while Gert Sibande District, Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation (DCSR) was visiting all five Correctional Centres of Bethal Management Area. It is after the DCSR donated 500 books to the offenders of each Correctional Centre of Bethal Management Area in December 2023. They were inspecting the states of libraries, checking accessibility to the books and sharing offenders’ knowledge gained from the books. Simultaneously, Ermelo Community Corrections cleaned the Gert Sibande DCSR Library to ensure that books and others resource of the library are spick and span.

These relations have also escalated to identification and enhancement of the skills of offenders. The idea has given birth to Umsizi nePende (Powder and Paint) fine art workshop session that was held at Standerton Correctional Centre on 20 March 2024. During the session, fine art artists that were sourced by DCSR shared their fine art knowledge and expertise with offenders that have demonstrated flair in the field of fine art. It was for preparing offenders to produce meaningful artwork that can be exhibited in public spaces such as museums for showcasing their skills and art galleries for selling the products.

Events of crime awareness and prevention were held in numerous public schools since the beginning of the year. Learners were provided with information about careers that are available in the department, educated about dangers of criminality and encouraged to refrain from participating on criminal activities. Furthermore, the DCS has assisted established vegetable gardens to support schools feeding scheme. It has also cleaned and do maintenance to ensure that leaners have access to education in safe and clean environment.

All above mentioned initiatives testify that the DCS Bethal Management Area is making serious strides to ensure that the officials, offenders and learners (communities) unleash their potentials. These are perennial activities that will sustained to ensure that a right to access to education is secured beyond the Month of Humans Rights, as it has proven to be a potent weapon that can liberate us from all sorts of disinformation and misinformation.