INMATES residing at three of the island’s penal institutions continue to produce exceptional results at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level.

A total of 24 inmates at Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre sat mathematics, English and social studies examinations, while six inmates at the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre sat mathematics, English and human and social biology and 20 at the Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Centre sat subjects such as mathematics, English, principles of business and office administration.

The May/June CSEC examination results show that the percentage pass at Tower Street was 83.3 per cent; 44.4 per cent and 100 per cent in Mathematics, English and Social Studies respectively. At St Catherine, inmates received passes of 100 per cent in Mathematics, 66.7 per cent in English and 75 per cent in Social Studies while at Fort Augusta 50 per cent of the inmates who sat the exam passed Mathematics, 44.4 per cent passed English, 83.3 per cent passed Principles of Business and 100 per cent passes Office Administration.

The inmates performance in mathematics compares with a 62 per cent pass rate in the island’s public schools.

The various CSEC classes which are being conducted inside these facilities are a part of the role of the correctional centres in rehabilitating inmates through academic development, with assistance from the non-government organisation, Stand Up For Jamaica and the European Union Delegation to Jamaica has been working arduously within the correctional facilities providing educational options, skills training, health and leadership training as well as offering reintegration services for persons who are newly released after being incarcerated for more than seven years.