EMPOWERING YOUNG INMATES THROUGH LIFELONG LEARNING PROGRAMS IN MALAYSIA: PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

The paper aimed on whether young inmates in Malaysia should be given more empowerment in gaining educational opportunities through lifelong learning programs during their imprisonment period in the detention centres. The current study adopts a qualitative methodol_ogy approach involving interviews with the officials of the Malaysia Prisons Department. Thoughts and views of the respondents on how they perceive regarding the educational empowerment of the institutionalised children and young people through lifelong learning programs are discussed. The findings can be demonstrated as follows: a) the government through its various related departments plays a major role in fulfilling the responsibility to provide more educational opportunities through lifelong learning programs for the institutionalised children and young people in Malaysia; and b) the educational empowerment for the· institutionalized children and young people through lifelong learning programs is vital as it would enable them to be better persons after release. It is anticipated that the beliefs ofthe prisons officials towards the topic signify the rationale and values on whether the institutionalised children and young people in Malaysia would be more empowered through lifelong learning programs during their imprisonment.