The Reader: Prison education system needs proper funding

Ofsted is right to be concerned about the quality of prison education as you reported on Friday. Evidence shows that education can be central to reducing re-offending and helping people to turn their lives around. But too often what is available in prison is not good enough.

Addressing this must therefore be a priority in the forthcoming government spending review, with funding made available to properly support prison education so that every prisoner can get the skills and qualifications that they need.

Jon Collins, Chief executive, Prisoners’ Education Trust

Dear Jon,

There have been a number of shocking stories which have exposed the reality of life in some UK prisons in recent weeks, including one about a teenage girl whose baby died after she gave birth alone in her cell. Ofsted chief Matthew Coffey’s words about the failures of education in jail made for sombre reading.

The Government insists courses are normally available to help prisoners gain new skills. But in reality provision appears to be less than adequate.

Covid-19 has undoubtedly made the situation worse. Face-to-face teaching inside jails was called off for six months, which meant some inmates had no education at all for most of last year. You are right to say reformers will be looking closely at next month’s spending review to address the concerns.

Rachael Burford, Political editor

Where is mask enforcement?

I travel into the City of London on the Metropolitan line several times a week from Hertfordshire. I have yet to see a member of TfL staff question a maskless user. The Underground notices indicate people will be “fined or refused use of the Tube”. Nobody seems bothered.

Roger Foord

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