Constraints in the delivery of adult and community education and training programmes for offenders in Limpopo province, South Africa

Abstract

Most governments have always desired to reintegrate young offenders back into their communities through educational programmes. However, this is met with a myriad of constraints in delivering such programmes. Information about these constraints is scarce in South Africa. This paper highlights the constraints to the delivery of Adult and Community Education and Training programmes for offenders in Limpopo Province, South Africa. This study used a case study qualitative research approach. A total of 15 participants were identified by purposeful sampling. These 15 participants were recruited from Polokwane, Makhado, and Thohoyandou Correctional Centres in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Data were collected through document reviews and semi-structured interviews. The study findings indicated that (1)Needs analysis is not conducted before the commencement of the programme; (2) The Adult and Community Education and Training programme for offenders in Limpopo Province is not adequately funded; (3) Educators do not receive adequate training necessary for the teaching of offenders; (4) The department does not do the monitoring of the programme as it was supposed to do. The findings imply that policies should be developed on funding programmes and training of educators should be developed. The findings also imply that practitioners should perform an effective, compelling needs assessment so that relevant programmes can be designed. Education and Training programmes for offenders because these very factors are the possibilities/ constraints to the delivery of these programmes. Furthermore, the findings imply that practitioners should ensure that there is ongoing monitoring of the programme to check its effectiveness.