Education and Vocational Training

Offenders under the age of 21 attend educational and vocational training
classes conducted by qualified teachers and instructors. For educational
classes, textbooks compiled by CSD and those supplied by publishers for
public examinations and higher level classes are used to provide inmates at
different levels with suitable and practical learning material matching their
maturity and development. Adult offenders attend voluntary evening
classes taught by part-time teachers. Self-study packages and distance
learning courses are also available for those who are interested.

All offenders are encouraged to take part in public examinations organised
by the City and Guilds International, Pitman Qualifications, London
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Examination Board, and the Hong
Kong Examinations Authority. Young inmates may sit for the Hong Kong
Certificate of Education Examination as school candidates, and formal
classes up to certificate level are provided for them. Adult inmates can sit
for the examination as private candidates. Some offenders, mostly adults,
have also participated in degree courses offered by the Open University of
Hong Kong and other academic institutes.

Vocational training programmes are provided to help young inmates
cultivate good work habits and discipline, acquire employable skills, obtain
recognised public qualifications, and engage in productive work.

A Prisoners' Education Trust Fund set up with charitable donations in
1995 provides financial assistance to prisoners in educational pursuits, in
the form of grants to cover course or examination fees, and expenses on
reference books.

[Back] [Forward]