BHUBANESWAR: Pick up the book and never come back to jail. That is the new mantra of the Prison and Correctional Services Administration of the State. In its bid to expand the coverage of secondary education among inmates so as to give them a sense of importance, the jail administration of Odisha is all set to open 16 centres of National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) across prisons of the State. Buoyed by the results of the only NIOS centre at Berhampur Jail, which started functioning last year, the Prison and Correctional Services Directorate has decided to set up similar centres in 16 more jails where the inmates can enrol to take examinations for Class X and XII. The successful inmates will get NIOS certificates for matriculation as well as Plus Two which will be equivalent to the Class X and XII certificates of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The NIOS, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD), conducts examination twice a year. Enrolment has already begun in six jails for the next session beginning October. At present, inmates appear in examinations on their own and prisons have handful of teachers to help them. The Indira Gandhi National Open University too has two centres but its programmes are only for higher classes and professional education. “What the Prison and Correctional Services Administration is trying to do by establishing NIOS centres is creating a drive among those who have lost out on school education,” IG (Prisons) and Director of Correctional Services Pranabindu Acharya said. Inmates, who have dropped out from Class X, find it easy to prepare for the high school examinations but the same is not true for others who have studied up to Class VI or VII. The NIOS will provide an integrated programme making it easy for those interested in getting a Class X or XII certificate so that they can take it forward once they are out. As part of the programme, the Prison Administration will bear the admission and examination fees of the candidates. While admission fee is fixed at ` 350, examination fee for each subject is Rs 150. There will be five subjects for Class X and candidates will have five chances to clear them. NIOS will provide books as well as teachers to guide the students. Through the process, the jail administration hopes the inmates will be motivated to pursue higher education or even help themselves with jobs when they are out. This also will keep them away from unlawful activities. Every year, at least 75,000 to 80,000 persons come in and an equal number leaves the 86 prisons across the State.
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