Thirty-four male prisoners have taken a significant step toward rehabilitation by participating in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), a pivotal academic milestone within Ghana’s correctional system.
The BECE, an annual event in Ghana, is a gateway from Junior High Schools to Senior High Schools and Technical Institutions. This year’s candidates include 27 juveniles from the Senior Correctional Centre (SCC), five from Nsawam Maximum Security Prison, and two from Sunyani Central Prison.
DSP Loretta Valentina Amoah, Greater Accra Regional Public Relations Officer, emphasized the inmates’ thorough preparation by qualified educators from the Ghana Prisons Service and the Ghana Education Service. She expressed confidence in their ability to excel in all subjects.
“Despite challenges such as inadequate teaching materials, our inmates have received dedicated preparation,” DSP Valentina Amoah stated. She urged the public to support the inmates, particularly the juveniles, by donating textbooks and study aids.
In interviews, inmate candidates expressed gratitude for their teachers’ efforts and optimism about their performance in this year’s BECE.
The Ghana Prisons Service initiated formal education at the Senior Correctional Centre in 2007 to enhance inmates’ literacy skills and facilitate their reintegration into society. The program expanded nationwide, culminating in impressive academic achievements, including a 100% pass rate in recent years.
