[inhitoemits]

All the time, the Department of Corrections has been under financial constraint. Most of the governmental budget, apart from prison construction, is spent on the officials’ salary, food of prisoners, and consumption while very small portion is given to education and rehabilitation.

 Regarding vocational training, the Department of Corrections has to manage vocational fund to support prisoner’s vocational scheme. After the sale of prison product, 50 percent of the net profit will be shared to the inmates engaged in the work. The officers who provide vocational training program will receive 15 % and the rest 35 % will return to the prison’s vocational training program to purchase equipment and materials. The same system is applied to labor work force in prisons.

By this system, the Department is able to provide and manage vocational training programs despite a small portion of budget from the government.

 Similar to vocational training, other fundamental programs such as education, moral development, and specific treatment programs also receive small amount of budget. The Department of Corrections tries to subsidize these treatment schemes by using supplementary budget and by requesting supports and cooperation from other agencies.

 Instead of awaiting only the government’s budget allocation, the Department of Corrections has sought supports and cooperation from every party of the community for the treatment of prisoners. It is crucial to inform the public that treatment of prisoners is not merely a responsibility of the Department of Corrections, but of the whole society; and that only the community can help the inmates improve their potentiality which can be beneficial in the future. In this regard, the Department receives more and more productive cooperation from every concerned agency.

Samples of the cooperation received are:
- Information technology study (Computer program for inmates), given by HRH Princess Sirindhorn
- The establishment of Prom Panya Library in 103 prisons, initiated by HRH Princess Sirindhorn and campaigns managed by Matichon Newspaper
- The “Art for All” project, initiated by HRH Princess Sirinthorn and operated by Art for All Foundation
- The establishment of Knowledge Center (E-library and e-learning) in 70 prisons, operated by Ruamrudee International School
- Work furlough in the industrial facility, operated by Amata Industrial Zone
- Various types of occupational and vocational training, by public and private agencies
- How to run and manage small and medium business, by SMEs bank, and public agencies
- Vocational Loan for released prisoners, by the Government Saving Bank

Source: correct.go.th HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's IT project

IT for Inmates was launched in 1995 to teach basic computer skills to prisoners at Bangkhen Central Women's Prison through a 126-hour computer training course. The programme was then extended to Central Correction Facility for Drug Addicts, Bangkok Special Prison and Bangkok Remand Prison.

To date, the course has been expanded to teach computer repair and desktop publishing. More than 25 prisons around the Kingdom have opted to train their inmates.
IT for Inmates project has changed the life of prisoners. Many of them, after completing their sentences, could use the knowledge to open their own computer repair shops while others could pursue a fruitful IT career in private computer companies.

The Nation At the ceremony at Bangkok's Ban Kwang Central Prison, Corrections Dept chief Nathee Chitsawang said his department together with Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) had given inmates access to higher education since 1984 to help them reform their lives once released from jail.

Most inmates studied law to defend themselves in court battles, he said, adding that study helped them focus their minds with the result that they earned good grades. Many of those released had gone on to find jobs and get praise for their sense of responsibility, he said.

So far 5,359 inmates (610 of them female) have enrolled, and 1,261 inmates have obtained bachelor's degrees.

The Nation Photos: Manager

[escolubtessen]

Are these courses free? Where do they get the money for them?

[Tauntenue]

RAISING THE BAR

Inmates graduating uni this year include some star pupils,

Writer: King-oua Laohong
Bangkok Post

Almost 270 inmates yesterday lined up to receive degrees from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University in a ceremony held behind bars by the Corrections Department.




A total of 269 inmates from 30 prisons across the country join a long-distance learning graduation ceremony yesterday inside Bang Kwang Prison. TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD

This year, 269 convicts from 30 prisons across the country have graduated from the university - with one inmate getting a gold medal in law and another earning his fifth degree.
The inmate graduates this year include Serm Sakhonrat, a former medical student who killed his girlfriend; Sorachart Sirichot, a former doctor who killed his girlfriend; and Boonlert Yaemporchai, a drug inmate who has earned five bachelor's degrees from the same university.

Relatives were invited to the ceremony at Bang Kwang Prison.
Serm, 33, has been in jail for 11 years and still has 40 more to serve.

He earned a bachelor's degree in law with a GPA of about 2. He now plans to enrol in a Chinese language course.
He thanked the Corrections Department and Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University for giving inmates the opportunity to study.

Sorachart, or Mor Ham, a former doctor at Buddhachinnarat Hospital in Phitsanulok who killed his girlfriend, also a doctor, yesterday played guitar and sang to inmates.
He has just obtained his second degree from the university.
He is serving 35 years and four months, commuted to 21 years, and has 14 years left to serve.

Boonlert, serving a life term for drug charges, said he now has degrees in law, agricultural extension and cooperatives, political science, agriculture and public administration.
He has been in jail for 18 years and six months and has 29 more to serve.
"I have spent about 10 years studying, or two years for each field," Boonlert said.
"Before I entered prison, I graduated from the faculty of business administration from the same university."

Niran Porthi, 39, a drug inmate who earned a gold medal in law, said he shunned education when he was young. He turned to study in jail as prison authorities gave inmates the opportunity to obtain an education.
He was sentenced to 23 years and four months, but received a partial pardon, which commuted his jail term to nine years.
He said he would like to be a legal consultant when he gets out on Nov 1.
He was not worried about his chances of finding work as he believed society would accept former inmates who had turned over a new leaf.

Over the past 25 years, 1,261 inmates have obtained a bachelor's degree. Three-hundred-and-sixty are still in jail. Law is the most popular field.

[UvgpXK0J]

Congrats to these inmate. Hope they will get a new job after serving their sentence. Everyone deserve a chance as long as they turn over a new leave... The yellow ribbon organisation which Singapore prison create for these people to get back the society soon too...