THE state opposition has called on the government to reconsider its decision to pull teachers out of jails, labelling the move a disaster. Wellington teachers at the Correctional centre will protest at midday
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Opposition corrections, justice and police spokesman Guy Zangari was in Bathurst on Thursday to meet teachers at Bathurst Jail to discuss the move, which is part of the Better Prison Reforms.
Under the reforms, expected to be rolled out next year, more than three-quarters of the state’s prison teaching staff will go.
Mr Zangari said replacing teachers with clerks would mean the only thing prisoners learned was how to be a better criminal post-release.
“The inmates need proper numeracy and literacy skills when they are released back into society,” Mr Zangari said.
“This government needs to do a backflip on its decision, we are scratching our head in disbelief.”
Mr Zangari, himself a former teacher, said education was the cornerstone to success and, for many inmates, learning while in custody was a second chance for them.
He added that many of the inmates grew up in circumstances of poverty and abuse.
“But here we have the government so hell bent on the bottom line they are making it difficult for inmates to access education,” he said.
Bathurst Jail teacher and union representative Kristy Donlan said the real battle in educating inmates was earning their trust.
“It takes time to build rapport, often it will be months and months of just saying hello before they come to class and I think that’s what will be lost once the teachers go,” Ms Donlan said.
“I can say hello to one inmate for six months every morning before he will come to class.
“It’s very hard for them to come and admit they can’t read and write.
“If you put a clerk in there, there will be no rapport - it will be like having a casual teacher for a day in high school.
“I’ve had inmates come up when they've finished reading their first book and for them that is absolutely huge. But all the government can see is the money.”
Member for Bathurst Paul Toole yesterday labelled Mr Zangari’s visit as “nothing more than a political stunt”.
“Mr Zangari has not met with the minister, written to him or raised a question in parliament about the situation,” he said.
Mr Toole said he met with the teachers from the jail last week about the situation and had taken their concerns back to the minister.
