AIOU finalises plan for providing free education to prisoners

Islamabad
The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has finalised its plan for upgrading existing facilities in jails throughout the country for providing free education to prisoners through smooth and comfortable academic arrangements.
The plan will be implemented in collaboration with the jail authorities in light of the guideline provided by the Wafaqi Mohtasib, said AIOU Vice Chancellor Dr. Shahid Siddiqui. The plan is a part of the jail reform proposals, being pursued under the directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Dr. Sididiqui said the plan is aimed at bringing maximum number of prisoners in the educational net, enabling them to become useful citizen of of the country after completing their imprisonment.
A transparent and viable procedure has been worked out for provision of educational facilities to prisoners. It has been decided that education from Matriculation to BA level will be made free for all prisoners.
The matter relating to free education for postgraduate-level programmes will be decided in consultation with the AIOU concerned departments. The proposed plan includes a detailed procedure of tutorial meetings, workshops and examination to be held in jails. For this purpose, necessary approval will be sought from relevant statutory bodies.
Dr. Shahid Siddiqui further said that the superintendent of the concerned jail will be requested for evolving a strategy for conduct of postgraduate level workshops. It was also decided that the each jail will be declared 'Prisoners Study Centre'.
In order to make the scheme more effective, practical and problem-free, it was decided that the jail superintendent will act as coordinator and he will be paid a reasonable remuneration for this purpose on semester-wise basis.
The teachers to be nominated in jails will act as assistants to the coordinators and they will be paid remuneration. They will also perform duties of centre superintendents during the examination.
As per the proposed plan, the university will send a complimentary copy of prospectuses to all jail superintendents along with allied material.