Union, MP clash over prison course

Chester Borrows

The Tertiary Education Union branch president has hit out at comments made by Whanganui MP Chester Borrows that an automotive course was pulled from Whanganui Prison because of a low pass rate.

"It is disappointing that Chester Borrows hasn't asked the real questions about why the automotive programme offered by UCOL at Kaitoke Prison was pulled by Corrections," said Tina Smith, who is also a senior lecturer at UCOL.

Mr Borrows was quoted in the Chronicle last week as saying many prisoners weren't successfully completing the course and it wasn't leading on to work once people left. Ms Smith said the low rate could be attributed to Corrections pulling people from the course early, and disregarding those numbers the pass rate was "very good".

"People with only two credits left to complete were pulled out of the programme," Ms Smith said. "Most who were allowed to stay successfully completed the programme."

The course was a certificate in small motors level two, and helped teach the prisoners how to fix lawn mowers and chainsaws, she said, adding it was the type of knowledge which could help them find work as farm hands or something similar.

Prisoners had "repeatedly stated" they enjoyed the programme, and many were asking when they could start it, Ms Smith said.

"Corrections appeared to be reluctant to support the programme despite prisoners being keen to be involved with it. Men like working with motors and the prisoners were certainly keen on the hands on delivery style of learning."

The course offered 59 credits for the prisoners' NZQA (New Zealand Qualifications Authority) record of learning, Ms Smith said. "UCOL staff had also fully prepared a level 3 programme and engineering options but were not ever able to run these because Corrections pulled the programme."

Ms Smith said dedicated staff would often go back in their own time to help prisoners complete the course, and continuing the programme would not cost Corrections any money as UCOL had the funding, staff, and equipment.

"So one has to ask - what was the real reason they did not want to continue to run this programme?"

Getting prisoners engaged in subjects they found interesting and useful was the best way to help them succeed, she said. "Prisoners and society are better served when people have real skills for the real world that assist them to get and keep employment."

Ms Smith said the course should continue at the prison, and it was the responsibility of the local MP to make sure this happened, or ask the "hard questions" about why it wasn't being offered.

Mr Borrows said Ms Smith's comments about prisoners being pulled from the course were "valid", but it was difficult for prisoners to complete the courses sometimes because of parole hearings, and Corrections' priorities when it came to rehabilitation. "What the union keeps forgetting is that Corrections is the customer here. The customer has the choice of whose product they use."

Mr Borrows said Corrections looked at the results of people that were graduating the course and believed they could do something better with that time.

"The problem here is that in completing that course it doesn't set them up with anything for employment specifically."

Corrections made it "quite clear" they hoped to try another course and it would be good if Wanganui providers were used, he said. "It's not a decision for the MP for Whanganui and it's not a decision for the Tertiary Education Union.

"I know that UCOL and Corrections continue to have good dialogue about what they can offer in the future."