Teachers at the Wellington jail hold concerns a new computerised system for testing inmates before they attend classes will not give an accurate picture of a crucial skill, their federation reports.
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The Corrective Services Teachers Association’s Wellington branch contests the new system does not test a prisoner’s ability to write.
The association holds concerns that without accurate results, inmates will miss out on improving the skill vital to finding work at release.
Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) offered assurances about the effectiveness of the new ‘Compass’ program and said it would be part of a broader process to help determine inmates’ needs.
The association backs the traditional paper-based assessment to accurately captures numeracy, reading and writing skills.
Association representative Janet Smith contests the writing skills of most inmates are far weaker than their numeracy and reading skills, and that the bulk of classroom time has to be spent on teaching inmates to write.
“Pre-testing that only provides results of offenders’ reading skills will produce statistics indicating a higher general level of literacy than really exists in the prison population,” Mrs Smith said.
“Pre-testing of writing would still require the skills of a qualified teacher.”
Mrs Smith questioned if the lack of data would then be used to justify spending cuts.
“We are really concerned that offenders will be released without having an opportunity to improve their chances of finding meaningful work and contributing to society,” she said.
A CSNSW spokeswoman said the ‘Compass’ program, developed by the Australian Council for Education Research, would assist with assessing inmates’ literacy and numeracy levels.
The program will be part of a broader assessment and planning process to help determine inmates’ needs and the most effective participation in education and employment programs, she reports.
An external service provider would assess writing skills to develop inmates’ individual learning plans, and paper-based assessment would be available for inmates who were unable to engage with online assessment, she said.
“[CSNSW] will ensure any external service provider demonstrates high educational standards and outcomes, including delivery of accredited courses and employing staff who meet the same standards as TAFE and other registered training organisations,” she said.
