Quaker pushes OU access for prisoners
Access to education in prison via a ‘virtual learning environment’ is being developed
A Quaker Open University (OU) manager is driving access to education in prison by developing a ‘virtual learning environment’ so students can access their materials in a digital format.
According to Ruth McFarlane, member of Ettington Meeting and senior manager for the Students in Secure Environments (SiSE) team, the number of prisoners taking OU degrees has increased by thirty per cent in the last year.
She told the Friend: ‘There was a big drop in students after 2012, when students had to start funding their own studies. But we’re now seeing increasing students: there are currently 1,500 and we’re expecting this year we will top 1,800.’
SiSE is also working to improve digital access for prisoners.
Ruth McFarlane said: ‘In 2019 we’re hoping to offer a pilot scheme offering secure laptops with HMPPS (Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service)-approval, so students can study digitally. At the moment, they have to manage several hundred sheets of paper in their cells as there is such limited computer access. However, they achieve the same pass rates as mainstream students and many get distinctions.’
Quaker Tim Newell, former prisons governor, said the initiative was ‘inspirational’ and ‘could change hundreds of lives’.
Ruth McFarlane described her work in the Widening Access and Success services (WAS) department as ‘part of her commitment to social justice’. She recently took part in Jordans Quaker Centre’s talk on Prisons and Justice.
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