EDUCATING WOMEN PRISONERS IN AFRICA THROUGH OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING MODE: An Empowerment Process

Abstract

The only ever known way out of poverty and any type of incarceration that can limit human survival is attainment of knowledge through education. Knowledge is generally regarded as power because it empowers those who acquire it without encumbrances to opportunities that could avail itself either in the world of work or in the general human affairs and activities. As important as education is, whoever finds himself or herself in the prison might not have the opportunity of getting educated due to the rules, regulations and practices that goes with the modus operandi of the prison environment since it is meant to incarcerate the prisoners for them not have the freedom enjoyed by lawful citizens in order for the prisoners to get reformed. Will reformation without education bring in any impact on the offender when finally released into the society? Will the offender not go back to his/her old ways if he/she lacks what could empower him/her to face the world of work in particular and society in general and thereby return to the same prison? Ab initio, women generally is regarded as second fiddle amongst the Africans when compared with men; how much more those that are sentenced to prisons for one reason or the other. This paper therefore discusses the option of educating and empowering women prisoners through open and distance learning mode of education for the betterment of the society because whoever train a woman trains the whole world.

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