MAKHADO – At least a hundred inmates at the Sinthumule/Kutama Maximum Security Prison received their certificates on Basic Computer Literacy, while another four received their High Diplomas in Adult Based Education and Training (ABET) during the graduation ceremony that was held at the Yellow Prison Gymnasium Hall on August 1.

The one-year Basic Computer Literacy for the prisoners was facilitated by Stanford Business College, while the two-year Higher Diploma in ABET was facilitated by the University of South Africa (UNISA). They were all attending their classes in prison.

According to the Managing Director of Kensani Correctional Management, Mr Gomolemo Moshoeu, the prison went into partnership with Stanford College and paid the tuition fees for prisoners enrolled for Basic Computer Literacy. "We are trying to bridge the gap between what is happening outside for the prisoners, as another way of giving them hope by encouraging them in developing themselves, as no one knows his/her destiny. We are doing this so that, if these prisoners can get parole, they could look for jobs using their certificates and diplomas that they received in prison," she said.

All the inmate graduates started with their courses last year. Unlike outside graduations, inmate graduates for Basic Computer Literacy received their Certificates wearing their Prison Uniforms, but the four who graduated in ABET were complete in graduation clothing.

Dr Ndoro Vera, CEO of VNV Management Consultants, said that although he does not know the graduates personally, he has no doubt that the institutions that certified their qualifications had made certain that they had met all the requirements. "You had to overcome several obstacles in your personal lives; to begin with, you are in prison, a place not commonly associated with studies," he said. He further outlined that the management of Kutama/Sinthumule Maximum Security Prison made opportunities available for prisoners to improve their lives. "Prison has not stood in your way to persue your vision towards self- improvement. You have succeeded and that success should be shared with the management of this prison, and certainly with your families" he said.

He said that the inmate graduates had made a bold decision to study, to be different, and succeeded despite the environment they are in. "It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness. You did not spend more time feeling sorry for yourselves, you chose to take a bold step of studying, you lit the candle that will enable South Africa to participate in Nepad," he said.