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C.P.I.A. 1 - SIENA

C.P.I.A. 1 - Siena, Centro Provinciale per l’istruzione 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.

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C.P.I.A. 1 - SIENA

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.

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C.P.I.A. 1 - SIENA

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 contact with local authorities, with the other schools and institutions and with the world of work.

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C.P.I.A. 1 - SIENAThe 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.

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C.P.I.A. 1 - SIENAOur 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.

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C.P.I.A. 1 - SIENA

First level - first educational period:

400 hours + 200 more hours for students who need to increase their knowledge and competences;

Subjects: Italian, English, History, Geography, Math and Science.

Final exam to get the certification of the first cycle of education.

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C.P.I.A. 1 - SIENA

First level - second educational period

825 hours, divided into lessons at school and distance learning (FAD);

Subjects: Italian, History, Geography, English, French, Math, Science, Law and Economics.

Final exam to obtain a certification of basic skills related to compulsory education.

Agreements with the other local institutions which allow the students to continue their education and obtain the high school graduation.

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EDUCATION IN PRISON

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.

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EDUCATION IN PRISON

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.

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EDUCATION IN PRISON

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.

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EDUCATION IN PRISON

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.

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EDUCATION IN PRISON

Problems:

Lack of prison officers to ensure the security of the inmates, mobility of the inmates, overcrowding;

Most inmates are disadvantaged people: immigrants who don’t have a job and can’t 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.

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EDUCATION IN PRISON

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SECOND CHANCE

The GRUNDTVIG partnership Second Chance, focused on teaching and learning in prison, gives us the chance to improve the quality of adult learning in difficult situations and gives our school a wider European dimension.

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SECOND CHANCE

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.

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SECOND CHANCE

ACTIVITIES OF THE FIRST YEAR:

• Interviews and life stories;

• Focus groups;

• Creation of the e-book.

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SECOND CHANCE

Impact on teachers and inmates:

• The experience of the interviews has been positive and useful for both the inmates and the teachers, because it helped us to know our students better, to understand better their situations and to consider them as human beings who deserve a second chance, not just as inmates. They also helped us to be aware of how much our job as teachers is important to them.

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SECOND CHANCE

ACTIVITIES OF THE SECOND YEAR:

• Exchanging activities: postcards, letters, pictures, paintings made by the inmates;

• New proposals to improve our educational activities;

• Creation of an e-guide containing the best practices.

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SECOND CHANCE

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SECOND CHANCE

OUR NEW PROPOSALS:

1. To give the possibility to external specialists, professionals or volunteers to take part in the classes;

2. To use alternative methods, for example games, songs, films.

3. Trying to change the society’s perception about ex inmates.

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SECOND CHANCE

1. To give the possibility to external specialists, professionals or volunteers to take part in the classes.

ACTION: inviting famous people and artists, for example Italian singers or actors, to visit the prison and talk to inmates, in order to open the gates of the prison to the external reality.

WHEN: March-April 2015

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4 March 2015 - Cristicchi at Siena Prison, “Santo Spirito”

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SECOND CHANCE

• Simone Cristicchi is an italian artist, become popular in 2007 when he won San Remo Festival with a song about the mental disease.

• In the last years, he focused attention on the theme of Memory: “Mio nonno è morto in guerra” that is a collection of stories about the II World War and “Magazzino 18”, dealing with the Istrian, Dalmatian and Julian exodus after the II World War.

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SECOND CHANCE

• Cristicchi has immediately accepted to visit our prison in Siena and meet the inmates.

• In a very little room, in front of 40 or 50 inmates, he sang some of his greatest hits accompanied just by a classical guitar and he performed some pieces from his theatrical plays.

• At the end of the meeting with the inmates, he was visibly touched.

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SECOND CHANCE

The inmates thoughts, the day after:

• “I didn’t know this artist before but I will remember this day for the rest of my life”

• “Cristicchi is a very amazing artist that can range from the pop music to the historical tale. Wonderful day!”

• “Happyness could be Cristicchi, who, after a performance outside, recognizes me and tells me: How are you? I am happy to see you here”

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SECOND CHANCE

2. To use alternative methods, for example games, songs, films.

ACTION: using more motivating methods and producing didactic materials to improve our activities.

WHEN: school year 2014-2015

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SECOND CHANCE

Teaching through documentaries related to the different subjects;

Using films, videos and songs;

Project about traditional fairy tales and drawings;

Producing teaching/learning materials used by the inmates and students outside, available on the school website: http://www.ctppertini.it/ctp/

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SECOND CHANCE

3. Trying to change the society’s perception about ex inmates.

ACTION: writing articles on newspapers and social networks about our activies in prison.

WHEN: School year 2014-2015

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SECOND CHANCE

The magazine written by the inmates of Siena PrisonSPIRITO IN LIBERTÀ

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SECOND CHANCE

SPIRITO IN LIBERTÀ

The magazine is published every three months thanks to the editors of the newspaper LA NAZIONE – Siena.

It is delivered with LA NAZIONE and some copies are given to the inmates so that they can send them to their families.

The articles are written by the inmates who attend the literacy course.

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SECOND CHANCE

SPIRITO IN LIBERTÀ

The inmates write about all the activities organized in prison: cultural events, theatre, school, painting.

There are interviews to the people who work in prison: teachers, educators, volunteers, etc.

The articles are checked by our teacher Elisa Faleri and sent to the editors.

The inmates have the possibility to communicate their ideas and opinions to the external society.

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SECOND CHANCE

Articles about our activities

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SECOND CHANCE

Future plans:

Continuing the implementation of our new proposals;

Inviting more artists and professionals;

Advertising our activities in prison and let the society know about the situation of the inmates;

Improving our professional skills through new European projects.