Second Chance
E- GUIDE
Lifelong Learning
Programme
Grundtvig
2013 - 2015
2
Summary
Summary.................................................................................................2
Introduction About our project .................................................................5
Education systems in prison .......................................................................9
ESTONIA.............................................................................................10
Viru Prison........................................................................................10
General education .............................................................................12
Vocational education..........................................................................12
Estonian language .............................................................................13
Social programmes in Estonian prisons ................................................13
SPAIN.................................................................................................15
Rehabilitation and treatment area in the prisons of Catalonia..................15
Which fields are included in the rehabilitation area?...............................16
Which are the organisms of decision?...................................................18
TURKEY ..............................................................................................19
Education system in prisons turkey...................................................19
ITALY .................................................................................................21
ROMANIA...............................................................................................24
POLAND..............................................................................................28
About of the participating partners and their organizations...........................32
ESTONIA: Psychology Aid Center ARIADNA .............................................33
SPAIN: CFA Jacint Verdaguer .................................................................35
3
TURKEY: Gebze Public Education Center..................................................38
ITALIA: C.P.I.A. 1 Siena .....................................................................41
ROMANIA: Gheorghe ieica ..................................................................44
POLAND: Detention Center Warsaw-Bialoleka ..........................................48
Summary of the first and second year activities ..........................................50
First and second year activities ..............................................................52
First phase of the project....................................................................53
Second phase of the project ...............................................................56
Presentation of the new proposals.............................................................58
ESTONIA.............................................................................................59
Introduction......................................................................................59
Proposals and activities ......................................................................60
SPAIN.................................................................................................63
Introduction......................................................................................63
Proposals and activities ......................................................................63
Conclusion........................................................................................73
TURKEY ..............................................................................................75
Introduction......................................................................................75
Proposals and activities ......................................................................78
Conclusion........................................................................................79
ITALY .................................................................................................80
Introduction......................................................................................80
Proposals and activities ......................................................................80
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Conclusion........................................................................................85
ROMANIA ............................................................................................87
POLAND..............................................................................................93
Introduction......................................................................................93
Proposals and activities ......................................................................94
Conclusions ......................................................................................99
Exchange activities................................................................................ 101
Mail Art............................................................................................. 102
Letters.............................................................................................. 104
Other activities .................................................................................. 105
Riddle exchanges ............................................................................ 105
Our festivities ................................................................................. 106
Presents exchange .......................................................................... 106
E-Guide Conclusion ............................................................................... 108
5
Introduction About our project
6
Education in prison is an opportunity for the inmates to be included and
to participate in society in a way that had been impossible before as a
consequence of their lack of training. Our project aims at discussing and
investigating two issues:
The first one refers to the actual situation of education in prison.
Education in prison can be a second chance to train the inmates, who, for
various reasons and situations, did not take advantage of their first chance
when they were children or youth.
Education for adults, and particularly education for adults in prison,
allows the person to think about training and start again. In this case it
represents to them a second training opportunity and it is also a benefit for the
entire society as it plays an important role in reducing crime.
The second issue is that education can go beyond formal training and
guide the inmates towards social integration. They have the opportunity to
learn the language of the country they live in, to study a foreign language and
ICT. The educational activities also allow them to have an insight into the
culture of the country where they are, to learn the values of respect and
tolerance and experience an active involvement. Thereby the inmates could in
the future fully participate in society and enhance their chances of social
integration. Adult education is different from children education, it reflects the
different needs and abilities of these students. Educating adults in prison is
even more complicated as the teachers have to work with people in
disadvantaged situations because of various problems: learning difficulties,
psychiatric disorders, alcohol/drugs addiction, impulsivity, illiteracy. If
additionally we add the socio-economic and cultural hard situation in which we
are, we believe the best way for the return of our students in society is through
the education.
7
The teachers have to use special strategies to motivate these students
and help them to understand the benefits of education.
Education in prison goes beyond academic training: communicative skills
and social inclusion are often more important than formal qualifications.
The teachers involved in the project will have the possibility to observe
how education in prison is organized in other countries and learn the best
methods and practices used by each partner.
The activities of the project will allow the inmates to express their ideas
and opinions about education, to consider themselves as students, not just as
prisoners and allow them to become aware of the important role that education
plays in reducing crimes as it motivates the offenders to live crime-free lives in
order to be completely included in society.
The opinions of students will help us in thinking deeply on our work in the
classroom and improve it. At the end of this project, society will have more
information about the educational activities organized in prison and about the
prisoners lives and opinions.
Therefore, since these types of studies in relation to the education in
prison are scarce, we think this project is very interesting and useful. It will
help us to evaluate the effectiveness of our educational intervention and
improve it in order to help our students to be integrated into society when they
are set free. Our project will be fully integrated into the regular curriculum of
the participating institutions. However, we will organize new spaces in order to
involve all the participants in the project activities. Creating the logo and the
poster, reading and writing postcards and life stories can be integrated in our
regular classes. We will dedicate additional hours to the interviews and to the
8
discussion groups. The new methods acquired by the teachers will be used in
their regular activities.
Activities taking place in the class and inside the prison mean an
opportunity, as these allow the students to get in touch with the outside world
getting to know other realities similar to theirs, other countries and cultures.
This will develop being more critical, being more curious to investigate and
learn, and the evaluation of permanent training.
To summarize, all the activities proposed in this project will enable the
student to become actively involved in the project and in the society to which
he belongs in order to obtain more tools for his social reinsertion.
Working with 6 different European countries - Spain, Italy, Turkey,
Romania, Estonia, and Poland - represents a significant enrichment concerning
the research to be carried out in this project because it allows to exchange of
experience and good practice.
If you want to know more about the project, check our website:
http://www.secondchancegrundtvig.com/8-news/2-about-our-
project.html
9
Education systems in prison
10
ESTONIA
According to the initial estimate of the Statistics of Estonia, the
population number of Estonia as at 1 January 2015 was 1,312,300. There are 4
prisons meant for 3500 inmates. Below is the number of inmates kept in
Estonian prisons by March 2015:
Harku and Muru Prison
Tallinn Prison
Viru Prison
Tartu Prison
Total
Condemned 177 593 768 736 2274
Detained 361 135 80 576
Prisoners in total
including: 177 954 903 816 2850
Minors 1 24 2 27
Women 98 42 9 5 154
Life imprisonmen
t
19 21 40
Open prison 109 100 209
Viru Prison
Viru Prison in Jhvi was
completed in 2008. Viru Prison is the
first in the history of Estonias prison
service to have a heightened
supervision department. There is
11
also a juvenile department, accommodating up to 250 minors. All underage
prisoners who have been convicted or who are being held in custody and all
young prisoners who have been convicted are held here.
Viru Prison has 1000 places in closed prisonhouse, 150 places in
aresthouse and 100 places in open prison. The complex also has studying
premises, a sport hall, rooms for social work, a chapel and workshops.
12
General education
The purpose of providing education is to prepare the detainee for release,
by supporting the person's complete development and the increase of coping
ability. Prison education is a part of Estonian national education system. It is
organized by the Ministry of Education and Research. Prison education is
regulated in legislation including the Education Act, the Imprisonment Act, and
others. All prisoners have a right for education by the law. According to the
education act school attendance is mandatory until possessing primary
education (9 years of school) or the age of 17. In case of Viru Prison it's Jhvi
Secondary School. So, studying in prison is voluntary for the adult detainees.
General education on the levels of primary and secondary school is organized
by the regional municipal education facilities. Thereby the school diploma does
not show that the student has mastered it in prison. In every prison, there is
possible to obtain full secondary education of 12 years.
Basic education (9 grades) is available both in Estonian and Russian
languages. The inmates who were studying on simplified basic education
programme can continue studying on simplified programme in prison.
Secondary education (10-12 grades) implies studies in Estonian language, but
Viru Prison offers it in Russian language too.
In 2015 general education is being received by app. 260 inmates.
Vocational education
Vocational education is organized by area vocational education centres or
public schools. It is available in all prisons. The most common professions are
metal and woodwork, construction, gardening, sewing, welding, electrician,
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cooking and small entrepreneurship The programmes comply with state
requirements and last 1-2 years. Prisoners who have not acquired basic
education can choose between vocational education and shorter vocational
training courses. In 2015 vocational education is being received by app. 270
inmates. The inmates from open prison receive education outside the prison, in
Ida-Virumaa Vocational Education Centre.
Estonian language
Non-Estonians are integrated into the Estonian society by the state
language and civic duty courses organized by the prison. The state language is
Estonian. There are 793 state language studying places created for the inmates.
715 condemned and 48 detained prisoners took part in Estonian language
courses in 2014. Estonian language courses are available until the level C1.
The prisoners have the right, if they wish, to make the Estonian language
proficiency test.
Social programmes in Estonian prisons
Anger management
Training of social skills
Training of anger replacement
Training of life-style
EQUIP ( for minors inclined to violence)
Safe-driving course
Right moment
14
Preparation for the release
Rehabilitation program for sexual offenders
The decision about participation in the social programmes is taken by
prison social workers.
846 condemend and 115 detained took part in social programmes in
2014.
Other supportive services
Chapel and chaplain service
Music band
Sport
Library
Handicraft and artistic activities
15
SPAIN
Rehabilitation and treatment area in the prisons
of Catalonia
Our prison authorities have competencies transferred from 1984 and its
purpose is to target maximum imprisonment to social reintegration.
Following this general objective, in Spain, the Catalan prison system has
been the promoter of scheduled releases, of the classification system of
progressive phases; it created the first prison therapeutic community treatment
for drug addiction, it became the first intervention programs in sexual
offenses...
Currently, one of the main objectives of the Catalan prison system is
becoming an opportunity for change. This has led in recent years to develop an
area of major rehabilitation and treatment.
16
Different professionals work in this area: psychologists, jurists, social
workers, social educators, educators, teachers, librarians, artistic teachers and
sports teachers.
All professionals in the area of rehabilitation depend on the deputy
treatment, however, teachers, although they are functionally part of this area,
are dependent on the educational director.
Which fields are included in the rehabilitation
area?
Intervention with inmates is based on rehabilitation programs, which are
prepared by the Department of Justice. These programs can be related to the
intervention in different major areas and each one of them is subdivided in
different programs.
1. Specialized attention
The purpose of this field is to prevent and/or reduce the risk of
recidivism. The programs are directly related to the types of crimes (Addictive
behaviors, violent behaviors and intervention in mental health and disabilities)
2. Working field
The purpose of this field is to incorporate the inmates to work, not only
inside the prison but also outside. So it works in two main areas: occupational
training and work placement.
17
3. Health and personal development
This field includes all these areas that encourage the improvement quality
life of inmates, like physical, emotionally and basic skills
4. Legal, social and cultural context
This field includes all the activities addressed to get skills and capacities
in order to allow the inmates adapting to present society, like increasing their
cultural knowledge, and providing them of legal information in order to allow a
better adaptation to the penitentiary context.
This sphere is being developed by multidisciplinary teams professionals
of the penitentiary center: social educators, instructors, jurists and librarians.
5. Adult education
This field includes all courses in adult education school. The Education
Department defines the educational curriculum and is common to all adult
education. So the prsison schools teach the same course and this allows our
inmates to continue their studies out of the prison. Each prison has a school
located inside and full-time dedicated teachers.
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Which are the organisms of decision?
The main collegiates organisms are the Treatment assembly and the
Multidisciplinary teams.
1. Multidisciplinary Teams
The professionals who comprise them carry out functions of guidance,
counseling and individualized assessment of the evolution of inmates assigned
in relation to treatment programs and intervention models that have been
designed.
2. Treatment Assembly
The treatment assembly has to adopt the agreements according to the
proposals made by the multidisciplinary teams. It exerts, among others, the
following functions: Approve the programs of treatment, propose the degrees
of classification, the transfers, the leave permits and solve the requests and
complaints formulated by inmate to the teams.
If you want to read more about the educational system in prisons of
Catalonia, you can read the document that you will find here:
http://issuu.com/cfajacintverdaguer/docs/education_sistem_in_prisions_f
rom_c/1
19
TURKEY
Education system in prisons turkey
In Turkey, prisons are under control of Ministry of Justice. All educational
activities are under control of Ministry of Education.
The main purpose of the educational activities in the prison is:
To provide basic, primary, secondary and higher education opportunities.
To open vocational education courses.
To organize creative and cultural activities.
To open sports, social, religion, general courses.
In order to organize the educational activities there is at least one regular
teacher in every prison. The main purpose of the teacher is to provide
communication between the prison and the adult education center.
The duties of the responsible teacher is to
Be a member of some committees
Organize official correspondences
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Keep track of students exams
Ensure co-operation of the prison and the Public Education Center.
On the other hand, the regular teacher in the prison is responsible to
determine the needs of education of the inmates. According to the educational
needs, they apply to public education centers. After the application, the Public
Education Center is responsible for the whole process.
The most important duties of the Public Education Center are:
To find the suitable teacher for the course.
To pay the salary of the teacher during the course.
To get the confirmation of the course from the Ministry of Education.
To supervise the process during the course time.
To certificate the successful trainees after the course.
To carry out the process of open education activities
21
ITALY
The prison system in Italy is ruled by a law issued in 1975, which has
since then been modified many times. The prison police is responsible for the
inner security. The policemen wear a uniform and they are employed by the
Ministry of Justice. Educators and social assistants are responsible for social
issues and reeducation. They are employees of the Ministry of Justice.
Educators compose the pedagogical area and they work inside prison. Social
assistants work outside and are in charge of the relationships between prisoners
and their families as well as the territorial community. School teachers are
employed by the Ministry of Education and the whole school system is run by
the Ministry of Education.
Education in prison is very important for the social rehabilitation of the
inmates, it represents an opportunity to develop their cultural and social skills
and it is a benefit for the entire society. Education surely plays an important
role in reducing crimes as it motivates the offenders to change something in
their lives in order to be actively included in society.
22
In the Italian system the educational courses are organized by the
C.P.I.A., structures of the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research
which offer education to adults.
Our school organizes courses into two prisons in the Valdelsa area:
Siena Casa Circondariale Santo Spirito, in this prison there are
usually people who are waiting for a trial or have to spend a short period of
imprisonment.
San Gimignano Casa di Reclusione Ranza, in this place there are
people who have to serve a long term sentence. There are two security levels
here: medium and maximum.
In prison there are the following courses:
Basic literacy and numeracy courses: many inmates cannot read or
write, so our courses represent their first opportunity to learn basic
skills.
First level - first educational period: the inmates who have basic skills
can attend structured courses and get formal qualifications.
In San Gimignano prison there is the possibility to attend Secondary
School courses and to take University exams. There are agreements between
prisons and universities, according to which a small jail section is appointed for
student prisoners. The university assures tutoring and exams.
Other activities are organized by the educators and voluntary
associations: theatre, concerts, singing, cinema, painting. In both prisons there
is a small painting room, a library, a small gym and a football ground.
23
In the prison school we usually have to face some problems: lack of
prison officers to ensure the security of the inmates, mobility of the inmates,
overcrowding; most inmates are disadvantaged people: immigrants who dont
have a job and cant read and write in Italian, people who have family
problems, learning difficulties or disabilities, psychiatric disorders, drug or
alcohol dependence. Most inmates left school when they were children or
teenagers, so they are sometimes unable to see the benefits of education.
The GRUNDTVIG partnership Second Chance, focused on teaching and
learning in prison, gave us the chance to improve the quality of adult learning
in difficult situations and gave our school a wider European dimension. The
teachers and educators involved in the activities and mobilities of the project
had the possibility to know the educational systems in prison in other European
countries and share ideas and methodologies. The inmates had the chance to
express their ideas about education in prison and outside, they also became
aware of the importance of education in order to be included in society.
24
ROMANIA
In this project partners work together for a better education given to
people in prisons. Romania managed to form a group of young people in
Juvenile Prison and with them during the project develops different
extracurricular activities. Craiova Juvenile Penitentiary is the institution
specialized in social recovery of the inmates (minors, young adults, and
women). Being in prison, the inmates follow intensive educational and
vocational training programs, according to their skills and other activities and
programs for social reintegration.
Education and Psychosocial Support Service aims to encourage
behavioral change and abandonment of criminal background by giving quality to
the time spent in prison, identifying and fostering positive potential and
awareness of new possibilities that they can benefit of. In order to be supported
in their effort to change and to become self aware about the things they have
to change, the inmates have the possibility to choose different activities and
also are regularly informed about the progress made.
25
Programs and activities developed with the inmates have as goal to:
Improve and balance the personality, intellectual and social skills
development, develop communication skills, experimenting peaceful
ways of solving problems,
Psychological and social vulnerability reduction through early detection
of inmates with different disorders: alcohol and drugs, depression,
potentially aggressive and placing them in programs to facilitate their
understanding of the problems faced, develop their capacity to adapt to
social requirements.
Creating activities in which they can succeed and thereby can change
self-image by exploiting their own potential, optimization of skills,
discovering and amplifying some of their skills and talents.
Formal school education is done through Special Professional School
Craiova, independent institution subordinated to the Minister of Education
(MEN), and includes the following forms of education: primary, secondary and
high school - at this time is included in educational courses a number of 106
students. Recognizing that social reintegration of the inmates requires a long
term approach, in which a significant component is the development of
cooperation with institutions and civil society organizations in joint projects, the
detention center runs a series of steps designed in partnership to diversify the
offer of educational and psychosocial assistance. We as Gheorghe Titeica
Association during our Second Chance project make one step forward in the
social reintegration of the inmates.
Official educational system in prison in Romania is legislated by ORDER
nr. 2.199/C from 28 October 2011 approving the Regulation on conditions for
26
organizing and conducting educational activities, cultural, therapeutic,
counseling and social work in prisons.
Some important details in this order:
- Cultural, therapeutic, psychological and social activities in prisons is
organized and conducted by:
- National standards in education, psychological and social assistance to
inmates;
- Characteristics and educational, psychological and social needs of
inmates;
- Execution time route;
- The type of enforcement regime of deprivation of liberty;
- Specific things for each place of detention.
- Specific approaches of the social reintegration personnel are conducted
on three areas of intervention: education, psychological and social
assistance.
- Participation of inmates in educational programs and activities, social
and psychological support is realized, as a rule, based on the
recommendations of specialists recorded in the individualized plan.
- The activities and programs platform is presented to the inmates in
quarantine and observation period and made available to persons in
execution of sentences, prisons, in places accessible.
- Education programs and activities, psychological and social assistance
conducted in places of detention are mandatory and also optional.
- Educational field includes all education programs and learning activities,
training, vocational training, leisure and creative which should have as
27
purpose the development of pro-social behavior, autonomous and
accountable in the community.
- Educational programs and activities have as purpose evaluating and
compensating educational needs of inmates, facilitating their
reintegration into society.
- Educational programs are general, applying to all inmates.
- The contents of educational programs correspond to areas such as:
literacy, civic behavior, family life, health, general education, physical
education and sport.
- Diplomas, certificates, transcripts and graduation certificates shall be
issued by the school in accordance with the laws in force.
- Educational and cultural activities are confined to the following
Educational Representative areas: intellectual, aesthetic, moral, physical
and vocational education.
- Educational and cultural activities are aimed at strengthening the
knowledge, creativity, practical skills development, also artistic, literary,
musical, plastic, technical skills, to maintain physical and mental tone
properly.
- Artistic activities are:
- painting, drawing, graphics, pottery, sculpture, technical applications,
fretwork, craft, embroidery, tapestry, knitting, fabrics, garments;
- reading courses, literary, literary clubs, theater, music, dance;
- other artistic events.
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POLAND
Recruitment and organization of learning schools in prisons and detention
centers takes place based on the regulation, of the Minister of Justice, on the
detailed rules and procedures for conducting teaching in prisons (Dz. Uz poz.
337 2004 No. 37 as amended) and in accordance with instructions No. 5 of the
Director General of the prison service on the specific mode of organizing
teaching in schools and training programs in prisons and detention centers from
25 November 2008.
The following qualify to be taught/ to learn:
Obligatory Prisoners, who are under 18 years of age, obligated to
realize the compulsory schooling and obligatory learning process under
the act on the education system;
At the request of the penitentiary department Prisoners, who in
individual programs influence the specific needs of the teaching process.
29
Prisoners who have made a request to start learning or to continue in a
specific type of school.
Prisoners, with the aim of starting to study in school make a request to
the penitentiary commission appointed to teaching. The penitentiary
commission qualifies prisoners to study in a specific type of school, guided
particularly by:
Documented learning until now made up of the necessary foundation
programs to start learning in the selected type of school or teaching
semester;
The level of motivation and aptitude to study in the appropriate type of
school;
Recommendations contained in influencing individual programs;
Recommendations arising from psychological studies, if any studies have
been carried out;
General state of health as assessed by a doctor employed by the prison
health care department;
The term of conditional release or the end of the prison sentence;
The work experience until now of the prisoner in the chosen profession;
Compatibility of the chosen school by the prisoner and the education
path from the list of schools and current, for a given semester, list of
education courses and teaching semesters in schools;
The function of the penitentiary unit, through which function the selected
school of the prisoner;
The necessity to ensure order and safety in prison.
30
Prisoners qualify to learn in school, if the time remaining until the end of
their sentence is not shorter than the teaching period in school. For all types of
school the prisoner can furthermore qualify for conditional release, if the release
term from the prison in connection with the early release or the end of their
sentence is not less than 6 months, and they require the completion of the
interrupted study or have adequate motivation to learn and the possibility to
continue it after leaving prison.Accepting prisoners into school run by the prison
is based on the results of the recruitment process conducted by the school
recruitment commission. For candidates recruited for the first semester in
school there are no entrance exams and qualification interviews conducted.
Priority for admission to the school is:
1. Prisoners serving prison sentences influence the program system, which
in individual programs influence the specific teaching needs;
2. Prisoners who have remaining to the end of their sentence a period
shorter or equal to the learning period in school. A condition for the
prisoner to enter the school leading to vocational education is for him to
obtain a medical certificate confirming the absence of medical
contraindications to
start studying in his
chosen profession.
D
31
Detention Center Warsaw-Bialoleka is one of the biggest penitentiary
centers in Poland. It has been in use since 1958. The nominal capacity of
Detention Center Warsaw-Bialoleka is 1385 places. In September 2005 we
opened an Education Centre where we teach basic skills at an elementary level.
Our Centre has room for 106 inmates and they have classrooms, a computer
room with internet access, audio-video equipment, library and sport area for
basketball, football etc. The Centre also offers workshops where prisoners learn
professional jobs, such as constructor, carpenter and others.
32
About of the participating partners
and their organizations
33
ESTONIA: Psychology Aid Center ARIADNA
Psychology Aid Center ARIADNA is a non-governmental organization that
was founded in 2005 in Narva, Estonia. Narva is the third largest city in Estonia
with population of 59,000 people. Nowadays over 90% of the current city
population are Russian-speakers, mostly either Soviet-era immigrants from
parts of the former Soviet Union or their descendants. This fact creates a
specific environment in the city and determines the whole scope of problems we
face. There are crisis situations in lives of every person. There are moments
when we lose our goals, feel emptiness and helplessness, need support. Our
psychotherapy goal is to support a client, help him/her understand the situation
deeper, realize the causes of suffering and find resources that enable our clients
to have fulfilling and happy lives. We are sure that every person has all
necessary resources to cope with any challenges.
Psychology Aid Center ARIADNA offers following services:
help in solving problems of mental health: depressions, fears (phobias),
eating behavior disorders, psychosomatic disorders;
psychological counseling;
psychological help in crisis situations;
family therapy;
group and individual psychotherapy;
Psychotherapy of gambling addiction.
34
We have participated in the projects of European Social Funds in
cooperation with NGO Uus Sild and NGO Procivitas. Our activities included
carrying out trainings and consultations for conditionally convicted persons,
prisoners and former prisoners. Our main tasks were to provide social and
psychological adaptation in the changing environment, group work, career
counselling and planning further steps after prison release. We have experience
of working with prisoners of Viru Prison (http://www.vangla.ee/35470-).
35
SPAIN: CFA Jacint Verdaguer
The CFA Jacint Verdaguer, an Educational Centre of adults, is in the
Men's Prison of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). There are 18 teachers, a librarian
and around 1.800 students each school year.
The inmates are over 21 years old, and are mostly held for purposes of
crime prevention, meaning that they have not faced trial yet. This criminal
situation affects the school because new students are registered every week of
the course, which is something teachers have to take into account in the
methodology they use.
The students are characterized by great diversity: ethnic, cultural,
religious, social, linguistic and geographical origin.
The school depends on the Educational Government Department, so the
courses are the same that can be found in any other adult school in Catalonia.
This helps our students not to see the school as a part of the prison because
36
teachers try to speak as little as possible about it and be as similar as possible
to any other school. The courses that are offered can be:
Basic training courses:
Basic training means a general education and compensatory education in
relation to the demands of modern society. Understood as a learning process, it
has two parts: instrumental training, which if we compare it to children will be
the primary studies or till 12 years; and Secondary education, if we compare it
to children will be high school or studies from 12 to 16 years. The curriculum of
instrumental training is organized into three levels and students who get the
objectives of these levels will receive a certificate of instrumental training.
Regarding secondary education, it is organized into two levels and students who
get the objectives will receive the qualification of secondary education.
Initial and Basic Education courses:
The objective of the initial and basic education is that students get the
minimum level of competence to develop in today's society in areas of Catalan,
Spanish, foreign language (English and French) and computer skills.
The courses can be: Catalan and Spanish courses (A1, A2 and B1);
Foreign Languages: English (A1 and A2) and French (A1); Computer courses:
Initial and Basic level.
University
The school also offers the possibility of a university education to students
who have secondary education and a good level of Spanish. This is carried out
through the Open University. The school is responsible for coordinating and
enrollments. There are some volunteers that help students to study in some
37
subjects, but basically they have to study by themselves. These volunteers are
people that came here without earning anything and also inmates.
Self-learning class
It is a classroom where students can study by themselves using
computers, books, dictionaries, television. Basically it is used by high school
students to study and complete their studies because their teachers give them
a lot of homework to do in this classroom to learn to work alone, without the
teacher. This class is also used by people that are studying University courses
or languages: students that are doing a language course at school, as a
supplement to revise what they do in school or students that have a language
level that is not taught at school. Furthermore, it is possible to study other
courses, like the theoretical part of the driving license, and others.
Many other complementary activities are done at school as a resource to
work other values and social skills with the students. They also are very
important and go beyond the academic training: social cohesion, respect for
other people and cultures, understanding and respecting human rights,
democracy, tolerance, etc.
To sum up, this school tries to help their students to be integrated in
today's society when they are set free.
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TURKEY: Gebze Public Education Center
Gebze Public Education Center is a governmental organization depended
to Ministry of Education. Our institution is located in Gebze in the northwest of
Turkey, on the border of two big cities, Kocaeli and Istanbul. Gebze is a huge
industrial town and it has a high rank of population and people migrate from
other regions of Turkey in order to get a job.
The main area of responsibility of our organization is educating people
who are outside of formal education. We open courses in our building also we
cooperate with municipality, non-governmental organizations and formal
education institutions to open courses outside of our building. In 2014 we
organized 918 courses and 21261 trainees attended our courses.
39
Areas of service
To organize reading and writing courses
To organize mass education courses in cooperation with public
institutions and organizations, municipalities, foundations, associations
and chambers.
To organize, seminars, meetings, symposiums, clubs etc.
To organize open secondary school operations. (Registration of students,
certification of students etc. 3141 students)
To organize open high school operations. (Registration of students,
certification of students etc. 4540 student)
Gebze Public Education Center have a very wide range of courses (118
Type), such as:
ICT,
Foreign Languages,
Handicraft,
Sports,
Family Education,
Cooking,
Hunting,
Music,
Musical Instruments,
Dressmaking,
Dancing,
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Hairdressing etc.
Courses which was opened by Gebze Public Education Center at 2013
2014 Academic Year.
Course Type Course
Number
Trainees (Woman)
Trainees (Man)
Trainees
(Total)
Vocational Courses 469 6943 3911 10854
Social and Cultural Courses
394 6020 2916 8936
Reading Writing Courses 55 995 475 1471
Total 918 13958 7303 21261
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ITALIA: C.P.I.A. 1 Siena
C.P.I.A. 1 - Siena, Centro Provinciale per listruzione degli adulti, is an
education centre for adult students. It is located in the province of Siena, a
lively city in the centre of Italy. It includes two institutions: CTP Poggibonsi and
CTP Piancastagnaio. There are 15 teachers and the number of students varies
according to the enrollments.
C.P.I.A. 1 Siena is a structure of the Italian Ministry of Education,
University and Research which offers education to adults and young adults who
have not completed their compulsory education or who are not in possession of
the qualification for the first cycle of education, in the perspective of lifelong
learning, in order to acquire knowledge and skills necessary to exercise active
citizenship and face the changes of society.
The C.P.I.A. is a type of autonomous educational institution with a
specific organizational and educational structure. It is organized into a network
of Territorial Services, has its own staff and its own governing bodies like the
other schools, though adapted to the particular users. It establishes a close
42
contact with local authorities, with the other schools and institutions and with
the world of work.
The courses are usually attended by participants aged over 16 with
special needs:
Migrants who need to learn Italian language and obtain a certification;
Young adults and adults who have abandoned school education and need
a qualification;
People who need to improve foreign language and ICT.
Our school offers various courses:
Courses of Italian language for migrants who want to live and obtain a
residence permit certification of level A2 - Common European
Framework of Reference for Languages;
Foreign Language courses (English and Spanish) for adult people: levels
A1, A2, B1, B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for
Languages;
ICT courses: basic and advanced levels;
First level - first educational period aimed at obtaining a certificate of the
first cycle of education (former middle school);
First level - second educational period aimed at obtaining a title
certifying the acquisition of basic skills related to compulsory education.
The First level - first educational period is a course of 400 hours +
200 more hours for students who need to increase their knowledge and
competences; we teach the following subjects: Italian, English, History,
Geography, Math and Science. In June there is a final exam to get the
certification of the first cycle of education.
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The First level - second educational period is a course of 825 hours,
divided into lessons at school and distance learning (FAD); the students study
the following subjects: Italian, History, Geography, English, French, Math,
Science, Law and Economics. There is a final exam to obtain a certification of
basic skills related to compulsory education. We also have agreements with the
other local institutions which allow the students to continue their education and
obtain the high school graduation.
Our school also organizes courses into two prisons in the Valdelsa area:
Siena Casa Circondariale Santo Spirito, in this prison there are
usually people who are waiting for a trial or have to spend a short period
of imprisonment.
San Gimignano Casa di Reclusione Ranza, in this place there are
people who have to serve a long term sentence. There are two security
levels here: medium and maximum.
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ROMANIA: Gheorghe ieica
Gheorghe ieica Secondary School is one of the best schools in Craiova,
has 20 classrooms, three laboratories modernly equipped, chemistry and
physics, computer science and biology, one library with 15,000 volumes,
projectors, DVD players, TV high speed internet connections and here study
approximately 950 students educated by 50 teachers and teacher assistants.
We offer quality education; we have over 1400 awards at national and
international competitions. Our students participate in many extracurricular
activities that develop their resourcefulness, help them to socialize with other
45
children and improve their citizenship. Information about our school is
permanently updated and can be found on our school website
www.gheorghetiteica.ro.
We founded "Gheorghe ieica" Association having as goals activities
related to the current work in the school. It was established to promote
democratic values and universal cultural values in the Romanian and European
traditional cultural and economic space.
The Association has the following objectives:
Contribution to respect Human Rights and of the Citizen as they are
proclaimed in international treaties and European authorities to the
Romanian state, the development of Romanian democratic system in all
its contents - economic, social, cultural and spiritual;
Contribution to the knowledge of Romanian authentic cultural values by
European countries;
Initiating and supporting development projects and school improvement;
Mediating relations between "Gheorghe ieica" Secondary School and
other organizations and institutions by identifying viable partners for
projects carried out in the country and abroad;
Directing resources obtained for developing projects, taking into account
the school's priorities;
Attracting and using extra-budgetary funds in the interest of the school,
the mobilization of the parents in obtaining material and logistical
support for the school;
Promoting the school's image in the media and the local community;
46
Sponsorship of schools curricular and extracurricular cultural activities,
stimulating students and teachers with outstanding results in school
Olympiads and National and International competitions;
Increase school inventory value by purchasing modern teaching
materials, equipment, books and magazines;
Maintenance of school premises in order to ensure good conditions for
carrying school.
Association has exceptional results such as:
Campaigns created to inform citizens about the role of education in the
lives of children and parents, studies, research, surveys, reports,
summaries of the importance
of education in Romania's integration in the EU, to respect Human Rights
and Citizen Rights, Children Rights in Romania and the European Union;
Editing and printing publications, creating radio and TV shows, creating
different websites depending on the topic of the project, ex
www.befarmex.com.
Organizing symposiums, seminars, training sessions, numerous
extracurricular activities, trips, shows, charities, European projects;
Ensuring the support for students and teachers of the school with
outstanding results in school activities, ensuring by own funds, a part of
the assets of the school;
Winning two European projects:
Grundtvig project: BEGINNING FARMERS EXTENSION-BEFARMEX
reference number GRU-10-P-LP-34-DJ-TR. 6 countries participating in
this project, project coordinator Turkey and partners: Greece, Hungary,
47
Italy, Spain and Romania - the main objective of the project was the
exchange of experiences between the countries on agricultural methods
and those used by farmers;
Grundtvig project: SECOND CHANCE, reference number GRU-13 P-LP-
442-DJ-ES. Partners: Spain as project coordinator, Estonia, Poland,
Italy, Turkey.
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POLAND: Detention Center Warsaw-Bialoleka
Detention Center Warsaw-Bialoleka is one of the biggest penitentiary
centre in Poland. It has been in use since 1958. The nominal capacity of
Detention Center Warsaw-Bialoleka is 1385 places. In September 2005 we
opened an Education Centre where we teach basic skills at an elementary level.
Our Centre has room for 106 inmates and they have classrooms, a computer
room with internet access, audio-video equipment, library and sport area for
basketball, football etc. The Centre also offers workshops where prisoners learn
professional jobs, such as constructor, carpenter and others. Our main objective
is to develop the inmates skills in order to enable them to live properly in an
open environment and particularly to prepare them for a return to open labor
market after being released from penitentiary institutions. Our activities aim at
creating conditions to enhance the inmates family bonds, especially the
contacts with children during the imprisonment. We offer to our inmates a large
49
number of re-adaptation programs, like: "The new men in the new time" an
educational program about history, technology, arts and humanities, "Read Me"
a re-adaptation program to prepare the inmates to the integration with their
families, "Aggression gate" an educational program of social re-adaptation
presenting the causes of aggression and proper behavior between inmates,
"Angel dog" a re-adaptation program for inmates with auto aggressive
behaviors. The Program is designed for inmates classified as a group of people
with suicide risk. They had the possibility to work with a dog therapist, a dog
trainer instructor, a coordinator and a psychologist. Our other programs include
effective coping with the labor market, ecological problems, aggression and
violence prevention, addiction prevention, first aid, ICT and other trainings
according to the diagnosed deficit.
50
Summary of the first and second year
activities
51
Second Chance project has been an immeasurable enrichment for all
countries participating.
It is important to say that this project has allowed us to know students of
our schools in prison in a different way, not only more deeply, but also more
aware of their needs. Furthermore, from the professionals point of view, this
project has meant a motivation, an incentive to improve not only personally but
also professionally and methodologically to do our best and desire for the
better. It has been two years of constant reflection on our work, about what we
do and what we should do. On one hand, this has allowed us to be stronger and
united as a working team. On the other hand, this experience has made us
improve both professionally and personally. For example, all the participants
have improved their English skills (as a language of the project) in order to
participate in it.
In addition, it also meant the opening of the schools in prison and
students, disseminating the different activities carried out. This openness has
meant, on the one hand, the opportunity to better understand the specificity of
education in Prisons and their schools; on the other hand, it has also
contributed to the recognition of our institutions.
Finally, this project has supposed, not only for professionals but also for
students, a linguistic and cultural enrichment as we are allowed to know the
different realities of the participating countries: different ways of working,
thinking, organizing, cultural and linguistic differences, different ways of
understanding the prison system and the education and, consequently, to
understand schools in prisons. Despite this diversity, we have been able to fit
the differences and build on them a challenge that together we could achieve
success and, consequently, it has allowed us to strengthen us and see reality
from a perspective much more open and flexible.
52
First and second year activities
Second Chance is the result of the hypothesis that education at
penitentiaries is a second chance for many inmates as it enhances the tools
they require to participate in society in a way that they were unable to do in the
past. All participants think that the training we develop in prisons may favour
reducing criminal recidivism, with the social impacts that entails.
This project began in September 2013 and will end in June 2015. We
considered the following goals:
3. Knowing what our students thought about the school in prison and
finding out if actually their passing through the school had helped them
or was helping and how.
4. Using their information to make suggestions in order to improve, create
a change, and share them among all the participating countries with the
aim of achieving that the Education in prisons really becomes a second
chance.
In order to achieve these two goals, we designed two different phases:
5. During the first year we collected the information of our students, in
order to be able to analyze our work as professionals of Prisons and
make suggestions for improvement.
6. During the second year, we have been implementing some of these
proposals in order to improve the Education in prisons.
53
First phase of the project
To collect the information from our students, we designed a model based
on qualitative research which was based on interviews, life stories and focus
groups. We wanted to listen to our students, be empathic, sensitive with them
and understand their school experience. Our students were the protagonists
and, through their voices, we could reflect on our role as teachers and look for
ways to improve it.
Interviews and life stories
Together with all the countries, we agreed on elaborating the guidelines
and the script of the interviews in order to know important aspects of inmates'
lives in general and their school experience in particular. The final goal was to
find out their feelings regarding schooling, what it meant for them, their
participation in the school in the prison and their opinion on the methodology
used and the comparison with their previous experiences. Regarding their
school experiences, we focused on three main aspects: the person, the social
context and the educational institution.
54
The life stories were the result of our interviews. The intention was to
write a narrative that reflected the interpretation of the memories, ideas, facts,
feelings...
In total 71 interviews were made and their life stories:
In Turkey, 12 to students from Gebze Prison
In Italy 13, 5 from Siena prison and 8 from San Gimignano Prison
In Romania 15, to inmates from juvenile and young prison of Craiova
In Poland 10, to inmates from Detention Centre in Varsaw-Bialoleka
In Estonia 8, to inmates from Center Open Prison Jhvi, "Viru Prison"
In Spain, 13 to students from Barcelona Men's Prison
Focus groups
Based on the life stories, all countries together formulated new lines of
work , some new hypotheses in order to be verified, confirmed, refuted or find
new ones with new students, new voices, to enrich our research. These focus
groups were organized in all the countries.
In total there were 12 groups, 85 inmates participated in them.
In Turkey, 1 group of 9 inmates.
In Italy, 2 of 7 inmates each one.
In Romania, 3 of 5 inmates each one.
In Poland, 2 of 6 inmates each one.
In Estonia, 2 of 7 and 8 respectively.
In Spain, 2 of 10 inmates each one.
Finally, we drew the conclusions from this first phase of the project.
55
Regarding the students, we concluded that, at attending at school, they
stop feeling as inmates of prison to become students. Often daily life in prison is
hard, lonely, and hostile.... with very rigid structures. In general, the inmates
feel insecure and their self-esteem is very low. In fact, they think they are not
capable of doing many things, for example, studying and learning. However,
the school is seen as one of the few places where change is possible. For them,
school is a relaxed place where they feel protagonists, active part of their
learning process, and, moreover, respected for their knowledge and their
chances to learn. Those things help them to increase their confidence and self-
esteem.
Regarding the methodology, we realized that our students really value
the collaborative learning, with other students, because it means recognition of
them and the others and, therefore, it increases their self-esteem and
confidence in their abilities. If, in addition, the learning is useful, they find more
sense and motivation to continue learning as they see the applicability of
learning in the future. As a result of this, it is established a commitment to the
school, with the teacher and the other students. Certificates and degrees are
also a good incentive to be linked with the school and they are valued,
therefore, as a key aspect for the reinsertion in situation of freedom.
Finally, with regard to teachers, students emphasize the importance of
teachers and they stress their ability to listen, understanding, sensitivity,
empathy ... among other qualities, but especially emphasize their patience that
could be interpreted as having in mind the peculiarities of students and different
learning rates. They value the ability of teachers to adapt materials, activities
and explanations in order to reach all students and thus ensure their learning.
The conclusions of the focus groups triggered suggestions, proposals for
improvement which were carried out during the second year of the project.
56
These proposals were about four blocks: improvements relating to students,
teachers, methodology and thinking about the future.
It was a very intense first year. The participating countries had different
ways of working, thinking, organizing; there were cultural and linguistic
differences; different ways of understanding the prison system, of
understanding the education, and, as a consequence, understanding schools in
prisons. But this, at the same time, was a great enrichment. We were able to
agree with the differences and build from them.
The main result of all that work was our digital book, where you can find
a selection of the life stories made by each country. We invite you to read
them: issuu.com/rosilu80/docs/life_stories_ebook_final/0
Second phase of the project
New proposals
During the second year of the project, we proposed to implement some
of the agreed improvements at the end of the first year and collect them in a
digital guide, as a result of all things done during this second phase of the
57
project. Each country selected the ones that they wanted to carry out,
according to their immediate needs and possibilities. It was agreed that each
country would do, at least, three from different blocks. The objective was to
design an action plan and begin the implementation.
Exchange activities
Moreover, to achieve the involvement and participation of different
students in that second phase, it was agreed that a series of exchange activities
would be carried out: letters, postcards, small gifts... which were a means of
communication and a channel to share their point of view on the project.
Thanks to the exchanging activities carried out throughout the second
year, students have been able to express their views on the changes
implemented in their schools and share them among the participating countries.
As in the first year of the project, we wanted that students were the true
protagonists, that they felt participants and could live the project. And through
their voices, we could redefine and improve the different activities we had
planned. In order to disseminate the results of these exchange activities, a
large exhibition has been carried out in our last meeting, in Poland.
The second year of the project culminates with the publication of this
digital guide, where the results of all improvements implemented in each
country are finding. We are absolutely convinced that this digital guide reflects
the efforts of all of us to get that education in prisons becomes, really, a second
chance for all inmates.
58
Presentation of the new proposals
59
ESTONIA Introduction
Changes that have been produced in the last two years as a result of
project:
- on the basis of the information received in the discussion groups we
made changes in the methodology and working methods with ex-
inmates;
- on the basis of the information received in the discussion groups and
from the questionnaires where ex-inmates underlined teacher's
personality, we now pay more attention not only to the aims of our
social programmes but also to interpesonal communication of ex-
inmates and teachers;
- exchange activities opened new traits and personality sides of ex-
inmates (creativity, depth of emotions and feelings);
- information about learning needs that we received from the
questionnaires set up a new challenge how to support inmates'
motivation to learn and increase educational status after release.
60
Proposals and activities
Activity 1: We used the feedback questionnaire that we developed at the
beginning of the project Second Chance in order to get to know inmates
learning needs, their opinion about organization of learning process and their
system of values.
We conducted a survey in two groups:
- studying inmates (45 persons: 17 are receiving general education, 28
are receiving vocational education)
- ex-inmates under probation supervision, who are following the
adaptation programme of regaining working skills (32 persons)
Survey results showed difference between system of values of inmates
and ex-inmates. Inmates' value family, health, freedom, friendship, love,
independence and education. Ex-inmates value money, power, status, success,
independence and health. The value of general education is much lower after
release.
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Results of research of the system of values
Significant values (inmates)
Significant values (parolees)
Values Rank Values Rank
Family 1,875 Money 1,33
Health 4,563 Power 3,22
Freedom 5,688 Popularity
4,235
Friendship 5,75 Status 5,05
Love 6 Success 6,322
Money 6,813 Independence 7,45
Independence 7,81 Health 8,656
Education 8,75
Opinions about organization of learning process and teaching do not
statistically differ.
Results of the learning needs research
The main characteristic: released inmates didn't mention such learning
needs as self development or increase of educational status. Their learning
needs are very practical: these are mostly well-paid and in demand vocations
with high possibility of job placement.
62
Results of research of opinion about organization of learning
process
There are no significant differencies between inmates and ex-inmates
under probabition supervision opinions.
Both groups insist on
- individual approach (71% of inmates / 68% of ex-inmates)
- practicality (53/61%)
- teacher's empathy and non-judgmental attitude (64/66%)
- interesting way of teaching and variety of activities (45/50%)
- opportunity to decide and define what and how to learn (40/46%)
Activity 2: We organized two information stands in the libraries of Ida-
Virumaa Vocational Education Centre and Viru Prison (open prison) with
booklets, posters and brochures about the available and possible future
education and professional development of inmates.
Activity 3: On the basis of the achieved results we developed 2 seminars
on the following topics:
- Identification of learning needs and motivation of adult learners.
Seminars were conducted on the course of Andragory and in the
Vocational Education Centre.
- Dissemination seminar based on results achieved from interviews,
discussion groups and surveys was organized for the teachers and
educators working with inmates in the Vocational Education Centre.
63
SPAIN
Introduction
The realization of this project has been an immeasurable enrichment for
our school and all members: students, teachers, volunteers Our challenge has
been to involve the whole school community, and, especially, that our students
feel as participants of the project; so we think we got it.
It is important to say that this project has allowed us to know our
students in a different way, not only more deeply, but also more aware of their
needs. The teacher-student relationship has become much closer and more
human. Communication, mutual understanding and empathy have increased,
too.
The project also meant the opening of the school and students,
presenting the different activities carried out. This openness has meant, on the
one hand, the opportunity to better understand the specificity of education in
Prisons and their schools; on the other hand, it has also contributed to the
recognition of our school institutionally and socially.
Proposals and activities
1. To publicize the benefits of attending school and promote the
desire to attend:
We chose this proposal because we believe it is important to disseminate
and publicize the variety of training activities that the school has, so that the
students can have this information and feel motivated to enroll them.
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Actions and results:
To increase the number of students in the school: During this year
has taken place a specific committee composed of four teachers in charge of
overseeing, proposing and developing various activities that promote the
incorporation of new students.
To show the school and the activities that are performed in it: We
prepared posters, leaflets and posters to advertise the various activities taking
place at school (lessons, courses, schedules, classrooms...).
Activities and exhibitions at school: We prepared exhibitions to show
what is done in school. The students that have made them and their classmates
have appreciated and participated in the exhibitions that have been done
throughout the school year.
To enhance taking part in the school: Monthly benefits have been
done by the school (extra positive points from SAM Continuous Evaluation
System and Motivation) to those students for their excellent support and
dedication to reward their efforts.
To explain what it is the school to the new students: Talks of
teachers and students have been planned in order to explain the educational
programs and school activities to other inmates who have just arrived at the
center.
To explain the benefits and resources available to students within
the prison: Different group tutorials have been performed throughout the
course and we give attention to the benefits of coming to the school, not only
educational but also institutional level.
65
9. Organize seminars, master classes... In order to share
experience between professionals who are connected to education in
prison:
We chose this proposal because we were all convinced that, to ensure
that our project had resonance and projection not only in our school but
outside, we had to promote all kind of activities aimed at dissemination.
66
Actions and results:
Dissemination of the blog and website of the project: We included
both links referring to this project in our school sign emails, in our website,
blog, presentations, etc. At the same time, the addresses of the project and
blog were sent to the Department of Education, which appeared in an article
about our project:
http://www.xtec.cat/web/projectes/plurilinguisme/programeseuropeus/pi
e/grundtvig
Giving talks and workshops about our project at the University: In
the University of Barcelona (Social Education degree), we presented a talk: I
talk and they listen to me:
https://grundtvigcfajacintverdaguer.wordpress.com/2014/11/11/parlo-i-
mescolten/
Participation in seminars and discussion sessions contributing our
experience: During the school course, a teacher of the project participated in
the seminars: "The orientation and prevention of school dropping out at Adult
Training Centers." and in the Fourth European Conference on ACEFIR about
training teachers of adults: http://ivjornadeseuropeesacefir.blogspot.com.es/
Presentation of our project and its results at different entities of
Education Department and Justice Department: We participated as
trainers in an informative meeting about the Erasmus + European program
conducted at the Department of Education:
http://www.xtec.cat/web/formacio/educacioadults
Also, during our meeting in Barcelona, we all visited the "Lledoners"
Prison. Finally, a dissemination session of our project was conducted at the
Center for Legal Studies and Specialized Training, aimed at professionals of the
67
Departments of Justice and Education, as well as others interested in the
project.
http://justicia.gencat.cat/ca/ambits/formacio_recerca_documentacio/formacio/
gestcon/comunitats_de_practica/ambit_penal/docents/jornada-presentacio-
programa-grundtvig-second-chance-26-marc-2015/#
Production of articles to be published in different magazines:
https://grundtvigcfajacintverdaguer.wordpress.com/2014/09/18/encetem-el-
segon-any-del-projecte-2/
http://www.infonet-ae.eu/articles-projects-49/2203-life-story-book-from-
prison
Exchanging sessions with other schools of adults to share our
experience: In CFA Carmel, we presented the talk: To go forward, sometimes
we have to start again:
https://grundtvigcfajacintverdaguer.wordpress.com/2015/02/23/xerrada-
al-cfa-el-carmel/
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Organize exhibitions to show our results: Throughout the course, the
results of Mail Art activities carried out by us and the other countries were
exhibited in the hallway of our school. Next September, we have planned to
participate in the exhibition of the Centre Civic Urgell to show our life stories.
Involvement in summer schools for adults to show our project:
This year we are going to participate in a workshop in the Rosa Sensat Summer
School whose aim is publicizing our project:
http://www.rosasensat.org/cursos/134/100:23/
http://www2.rosasensat.org/ca/post/l-any-2015-l-any-de-rosa-sensat
Others: We presented the life stories that were done in our school (13 in
totals) in order to take part in the competition of small tales named Look at my
eyes organized by the association staff of La Caixa bank.
http://www.miramalsulls.cat/
13. Carry out activities in which students have to decide what
they want to do, what material they need,
We chose this proposal because we thought that if we improved our
methodology and our teaching task, students learning and personal aspects
would improve (motivation, self-esteem, learning capacity).
69
2.b. Make exchanges and organize activities that enhance self-
esteem and motivation.
6.b. Follow up with the interviews to the inmates to know their
needs and opinions, in order to improve our task.
We included this two other proposals as we considered that they were
complementary and gave a global vision to the learning-teaching process.
Actions and results:
Creating a physical space in each classroom where the students
can express interests, needs... about topics they want to learn: We
prepared a physical space like a blackboard where the students could write their
opinions, their needs (see-listen-act) to include them in the school
programmes.
During the development of the units to learn, the students are asked
about what they want to learn or know in order to adapt these contents to their
interests: In reference to this action, several proposals have been made,
especially with initial activities in the different programs worked in order to
know our students' interests.
Proposals of open and flexible tasks and activities to allow the resolution
of these activities to all students, with different materials and resources: With
this proposal we want to offer the possibility to get the objectives to all the
students. Here are some examples:
Curse treasure quest (GES1):
http://issuu.com/accesocat/docs/el_tresor_male__t?e=0/11680870
3,2,1 Action!!! (GES2):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbeJvKvgVTM
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Natural disasters (FI1):
Volcano: http://www.slideshare.net/jacintverdaguer/el-volc-27202735
Hurricane: http://www.slideshare.net/jacintverdaguer/hurac2,
Flood: http://www.slideshare.net/jacintverdaguer/inundacio,
Tsunami: http://www.slideshare.net/jacintverdaguer/tsunami-27203309
Nowadays, our teachers are taking a course FIC (Internal Long-life
learning) and its objective is to make our lesson plans more skillful.
Encouraging exchange activities with other students, levels,
educational programs and schools: In this action, we developed different
exchange activities: among students of different levels in all the school, with
students from others Penitentiary Centers, with students from the Second
Chance project.
Incorporating a kind of evaluation (co-evaluation, self-assessment) along
the learning process in order to involve the students in this process and help
them to think about it: In this activity we asked some questions about what
they had learnt, what they had liked most and least, how they had felt,
suggestions And this activity was directed as a co-assessment (teacher-
students, students-students) and/or self-assessment (own student).
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15. Organize activities in order to create a connection between
the inmates and the world of work to increase their employment
opportunities:
We chose this proposal because we thought that a good way to help our
students and give them a really second chance in the future could be organizing
activities that help them to increase their employment opportunities.
Actions and results:
Contact insertion services and guidance of the city of Barcelona in order
to obtain advice and resources for our students on this topic: Work Office,
Barcelona Activa, Tria Open Centre, E-IXAM: The assessment of these sessions
that the students, advisors and teachers have done of the school is that they
have been very interesting and useful information and resources provided:
https://grundtvigcfajacintverdaguer.wordpress.com/2014/12/15/activitat-
eixam/
Contact the CIRE (Centre for Initiatives for Reinsertion) of our Prison, in
order to obtain information on the work carried out by the agency in connection
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with the work of inmates: The assessment was made of these sessions was also
quite positive because it allowed students to know first hand how a company
linked to the prison, could help them improve their options in the workplace:
https://grundtvigcfajacintverdaguer.wordpress.com/2015/03/05/el-mon-
laboral-a-lescola/
Do school-related activities during the fortnight labor devoted to
this subject, in the annual program each year: The whole school was
involved in different activities connected to the theme of labor. All these
activities were highly valued by our students as it allowed them to approach the
real world from learning that will be very useful in the future.:
http://blocs.xtec.cat/novetatscfajacintverdaguer/2015/02/27/el-mon-
laboral-a-formacio-basica/#.VPg99HyG-So
http://blocs.xtec.cat/novetatscfajacintverdaguer/2015/02/24/mon-
laboral-des-densenyaments-inicials-i-basics/#.VPg-HXyG-So
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Conclusion
It is difficult to explain in words the conclusions of this project, two
intense years have left a major imprint on the school. The project has given us
the opportunity to meet other penitentiary and educational realities that have
enriched and made us appreciate our situation. It also allowed us to meet
people committed to a common goal; and how, from this, we have worked from
each country, and then share a consensus between all the different decisions.
This possibility of working group has been very enriching. Furthermore, in this
project we have already seen some improvements and results before finishing
it, because there are actions that have been evaluated, and this point not only
underlines our daily work, but also demonstrates that it is a living project.
As teachers, it made us think more about our work and be aware of how
far we have come, and also realize that we can continue to grow and know our
working line. It also provided us to continue adding more security efforts in this
direction. It has been a great opportunity to introduce our way of working and
thinking of education and reach other professionals associated with this area of
adult education and education in penitentiary centers.
The project has allowed students to have an active role. On one hand,
they are made aware of all the learning process, and on the other hand, we are
aware of the importance of this active participation. In this regard, not only the
sensitivity from teachers has increased, but also being more receptive towards
the demands that students express. Furthermore, this aspect has been
demonstrated because there is a greater capacity to adapt to change while
programming. The dialogue created between us and the areas of
communication that have been opened favored common enrichment; it has
been very rewarding to hear our students voices and made us see that our
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thoughts are reflected in their words, ideas and feelings. The main idea is that
the school provides opportunities and different options for the students.
Is there life after the "Second Chance"? We can say that this was the
beginning of a project, a new line of work and understanding the adult school.
It has meant a second chance in terms of personal and professional growth. We
are very proud of the recognition and the echo it had at the institutional level as
a center. We would like to continue working in this direction; so, yes, we
believe that there is life after the "Second Chance", new projects are waiting for
us.
If you want to read more about our new proposals, you can read the
document that you will find here:
http://issuu.com/cfajacintverdaguer/docs/new_proposals_document
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TURKEY
Introduction
Changes that have been produced in the last two years as a result of the
project:
A) Course variety:
Before our project has begun we opened 7 different courses in Gebze
Prison. (2012 2013)
- Cooking,
- ICT,
- Needle Lace,
- Reading and Writing,
- Hairdressing ,
- Theatre
- 3-6 Years old children activities
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In the first year of the Project (2013 2014) we increased the variety of
the courses and we opend 10 different courses in Gebze Prison.
- 7-19 Years old Family Guidance,
- Cooking,
- Balama (Turkish Instrument)
- ICT,
- Hygiene Education,
- Reading and Writing,
- Reading and Writing (2. degree)
- Hairdressing,
- Ceramics Schapes d
- 3-6 Years old children activities)
In the second year of the Project (2014 2015) we opened 10 different
type of courses in Gebze Prison by 15.04.2015.
- Cooking,
- Balama (Turkish Instrument),
- ICT,
- Being Family,
- Communication in social life and work,
- Reading and Writing,
- Reading and Writing (2. degree),
- Hairdressing,
- Ceramics Schapes
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- 3-6 Years old children activities)
Thanks to our project the variety of the courses in the prison was
increased. In the first year we opened 3 different courses than before and in the
second year we changed the variety of the courses according to the educational
needs. We are planning to increase the variety of the courses until the end of
educational term.
B) Total number of courses in prison
Below it is seen that the total number of the courses which were opened
in Gebze Prison. The total number of the courses was increased every year.
Until the end of this term we are planning to open more courses in the prison.
Total Number: 11 (2012 2013)
Total Number: 17 (2013 2014)
Total Number: 17 (2014 2015) (by 15.04.2015)
C) Course lenght :
According to the result of the interviews and focus groups results we
planned to open more courses in summer time. Below