Bangkok: Opening classrooms in prisons is transforming walls into opportunities, empowering inmates to pursue higher education up to university level, and building new futures after their release. The government is committed to creating equal educational opportunities, collaborating with the Ministry of Education and the Department of Corrections to open classrooms in prisons. This initiative will grant inmates access to education from basic to university levels, along with vocational and life skills training, preparing them for their reintegration into society as productive members.
According to Thai News Agency, Lieutenant Colonel Patthadarasmi Thongsalooykorn, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, disclosed that the government is determined to create educational opportunities for all citizens. The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Corrections, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to organize, promote, and support lifelong learning, self-development learning, and qualification-based learning for inmates in prisons and correctional facilities nationwide. The objective is to make education a pivotal tool for rehabilitating potential, creating opportunities for a new life, and reducing recidivism post-release.
Captain Patthadarasmi emphasized that the government views education as a fundamental right and a cornerstone for enhancing the quality of life. Despite the restrictions on prisoners' freedom, their opportunities to learn should remain unhindered. This collaboration aligns with the policy of reducing educational inequality and the Learning Promotion Act of 2023, which advocates for flexible learning, including lifelong learning, self-development learning, and learning for qualifications at various levels.
Under this collaboration, the Department of Learning Promotion (DLP) will implement an education system tailored to the prison context, offering inmates opportunities to continue their education from basic to university levels. This will be paired with the development of life skills and vocational skills, thereby boosting their readiness for employment and their reintegration into families and society post-release.
'The government aims to create a society of opportunity, believing that providing educational opportunities to prisoners is an investment in the country's future. When ex-convicts possess knowledge, qualifications, and vocational skills, they can reintegrate into society with dignity, reduce the likelihood of reoffending, and become a vital force in national development,' stated Captain Pattarasmi.