Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) has today held a ceremony at Maafushi Prison to award certificates to inmates that completed courses under the Rehabilitation Framework.
The ceremony was honoured by Minister of State for Home Affairs Mr Ali Nazeer. The ceremony was also attended by Commissioner of Prisons Ahmed Mohamed Fulhu, Deputy Commissioner of Prisons Uz Ibrahim Mohamed Didi, Director of Maafushi Prison Assistant Superintendent of Prisons Ahmed Jaadhulla, senior management and invitees.
The purpose of Rehabilitation Framework is to reform inmates by educating and teaching them useful skills which can help them earn a living and get accepted by the society after their release from prison.
Certificates were handed over to the inmates who completed Qirat course level 1, 2 and Diploma, Certificate 1 in Computer Applications, Certificate 2 in Essential Agriculture, Certificate 1 in House Wiring and Electrician as well as those who took the SSC and O’ Level exams. Though 44 inmates had completed the above-mentioned courses, certificates were handed over the 24 inmates who were currently at the Prison. The 11 inmates who achieved Higher Distinction were given a medal by the Guest of Honour. Certificates were also handed over to facilitators from Ministry of Islamic Affairs and MCS in appreciation of their efforts.
While speaking at the ceremony, Guest of Honour State Minister Ali Nazeer congratulated those who completed the programmes and noted that gaining knowledge is not a small thing while being incarcerated in a prison away from the love and assistance from own family. He noted the courage of those who completed the programmes. He said that most people end up in prison due to various social issues, and wanted verification from the graduates of the programmes that once they are released from prison; armed with fresh knowledge and learned skills, they will work with the aim of not returning to prison.
The State Minister stated that regionally Maldives had a high rate of re-offending and encouraged the graduates to spend their time in prison in a positive manner, and to change their philosophy, thought and actions to reflect that of a person beneficial the family and society. He also noted that all the connected agencies of the government must work together to reform offenders and to reduce recidivism.
Commissioner of Prisons Ahmed Mohamed Fulhu thanked the graduates for successfully completing the programmes and noted that one of the major purposes of operating prisons is to reform offenders sentenced to prison and reintegrate them to the society. He stated that the result of the efforts to reform offenders would be to see inmates who complete various training programmes to utilising their knowledge in the practical world. The Commissioner stated that gaining knowledge is not restricted to a certain age, person or a field and advised the graduates to continue gaining knowledge even after completing these programmes and to find individual educational opportunities and work towards achieving it.
The Commissioner highlighted two policies of the government to improve the prison system and stated that in order to reduce the prison population, work is ongoing to enforce non-custodial penalties such as community service and strengthening and widening the current rehabilitation programmes. Even though all the planned projects were not carried out in order to Covid-19, the Commissioner noted that once the rehabilitation centre projects at Maafushi Prison and Asseyri Prison are completed; the prisons will have the physical infrastructure to provide training programmes to 50% more of the prison population than at current, while increasing vocational training and the number of participants. In addition, the Commissioner thanked the Ministry of Islamic Affairs on behalf of MCS and himself for the Ministry’s professional assistance provided to the programmes.
