University Scholarships For Four Inmates, Two Correctional Officers
By: , February 25, 2022
Photo: Mark Bell
State Minister in the Ministry of National Security, Hon. Zavia Mayne (standing centre), observes the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate the award of six full tuition scholarships for four inmates, and two correctional services officers to study for an Associate Degree in Business Administration at the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC). The Signatories are (seated from left) Commissioner of Corrections, Department of Correctional Services (DCS), Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.), Gary Rowe; Deputy Executive Chair, University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC) Group, Geraldine Adams; and Executive Director, Stand up for Jamaica, Carla Gullotta. Also witnessing the proceedings are Head of Department, Business Administration UCC, Sonia Davidson (standing left); and Chief Technical Director in the Ministry, Shauna Trowers. The signing took place on Wednesday (February 23) at the UCC in Kingston, and livestreamed on the DCS’ Instagram page.The Full Story
Four inmates and two correctional services officers are to benefit from scholarships to study for an Associate Degree in Business Administration at the University at the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC) under a government and private-sector partnership.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate the award of the six full scholarships, was signed on Wednesday (February 23) by representatives from the Ministry of National Security, Department of Correctional Services (DCS), the UCC, and non-governmental organisation (NGO), Stand Up for Jamaica.
The scholarships will be offered to both male and female inmates and correctional officers at the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre, and the South Camp Adult Correctional Centre, Kingston.
They will benefit from fully paid tuition, appropriately equipped labs, books, materials, and student support services, to facilitate online classes.
State Minister in the Ministry of National Security, Hon. Zavia Mayne, in his address at the virtual signing ceremony, said that the award of the six scholarships is “a step in the right direction” as the Ministry and its stakeholders seek to provide more opportunities for learning in correctional facilities.
He noted that the Ministry and the DCS are committed to “giving inmates hope for a better future and the opportunity to become better versions of themselves, once they have served their time and are released back into the wider society”.
Commissioner of Corrections, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.), Gary Rowe, said that the DCS is dedicated to the higher education and rehabilitation of inmates in its care, as well as the welfare of the officers within its institutions.
He said that the award of the scholarships “signifies that people in prisons are capable and that if the bar is set high, people can rise to the occasion”.
He noted that it also indicates that “we are making strides as we implement measures to enhance the individual development of our inmates as they prepare for successful reintegration into society”.
The scholarship award is a continuation of a pilot initiative that commenced in January 2020 at the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre, which saw full tuition being paid for four inmates and one correctional officer to pursue a two-year Associate Degree in Business Administration.