Institute for Correctional Studies (ICOST) has today started a newly-designed course under the name “Certificate 1 in Basic Sewing” for inmates at Maafushi Prison.
The five-week course is registered at Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) and the classes are intended to proceed in two groups of 10 totalling to 20 participants.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Executive Director of ICOST Chief Prisons Officer Ahmed Riza noted that the previous courses organised by ICOST for inmates were conducted by collaborating with other institutions, but the Certificate 1 in Basic Sewing course is exclusively conducted by the ICOST and the facilitators are all officers from MCS. He said that in addition to the sewing course, ICOST is currently in the process of designing new courses for submission to MQA for accreditation. He further stated that ICOST will open for the application to new courses and urged all to pass the information to other inmates.
Chief Guest of the ceremony, Deputy Commissioner of Police Hassan Zilaal said that inmates who participate in such courses will have a MQA-recognised certificate when they get released back into the community. He advised all participants to attend classes regularly and work hard to move on to Certificate Level 2 and 3 and hence hold a diploma-level qualification at their release.
Senior officials from ICOST and Maafushi Prison also participated in the ceremony.
