The Responsiveness of Prison Education to the Needs of Adult Prisoners at Mukobeko Maximum Prison in Zambia

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the relevance of Prison education to the needs of Adult Prisoners at Mukobeko Maximum Correctional facility in Kabwe in Zambia’s Central Province. The study involved eighteen (18) respondents comprising four (4) instructors, ten (10) prisoners and four (4) administrators. The data was collected using a qualitative study approach. The research reveals that prison education was relevant to the needs of prisoners as it is a source of livelihood for the prisoners once they are discharged due to the positive use of the skills they acquire whilst in prison. The findings further show that the prisoners (learners) were not actively involved when it came to skill and content selection in that skills were assigned and imparted to them without prisoners’ involvement in making decisions or evaluating what they learnt.