A digital literacy programme offers juvenile prison inmates some fresh hope, writes Hanna Sheikh Mokhtar
SOME 500 juveniles, aged between 16 and 21 from 13 prison schools nationwide, now have a better future to look forward to upon their release.
Under a collaboration between the Prisons Department of Malaysia and Microsoft Malaysia, they will participate in a three-year programme that includes digital literacy and upskilling opportunities in the areas of digital inclusion, entrepreneurship and capacity-building. This will prepare them for employability, equipping them with knowledge and skills to enable them to pursue further educational opportunities.
BASIC COMPUTING SKILLS
Inmates from the prison schools will be trained to use basic computer programmes such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Teachers at the prison schools will also be trained in areas of digital literacy to help them impart the skills required to improve learning outcomes of the inmates.
Mary Snapp, corporate vice-president of Microsoft Philanthropies, explained that the collaboration was part of Microsoft’s long-standing commitment to invest in digital inclusion programmes and partnerships in the country.
“Microsoft was founded on the principle that people can do remarkable things when technology is within reach. We want to create immersive and inclusive experiences that inspire lifelong learning, stimulating development of essential life skills — communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, character, citizenship and computational thinking — and support educators in nurturing student passions,” said Snapp.
“We are excited about the partnership with the Prison Department on this programme, which includes providing digital literacy, entrepreneurship, computer science and leadership looks at employability and start-ups as an outcome for these prison schools.”
EMPOWERING JUVENILE INMATES
Programmes to empower juvenile inmates here are not new to Microsoft Malaysia. The Hour of Code initiative, where inmates were introduced to coding via a specially created Minecraft coding tutorial, taught the inmates at Henry Gurney Prison School in Malacca the basics of coding — allowing them to navigate, mine, craft and explore in a two-dimensional Minecraft world. The students were successfully taught to plug together blocks to complete actions to generate code.
Microsoft is in discussions with the Ministry of Home Affairs to develop similar capacity-building programmes for juvenile inmates in prison schools. This has, in turn, led to the Prisons Department of Malaysia to consider developing IT academies for the 13 prison schools nationwide, including Henry Gurney Prison Schools as well as the Integrity Schools.
Jasmine Begum, director, corporate, external & legal affairs, Microsoft Malaysia and Emerging Markets, said that this partnership has allowed Microsoft to reiterate its commitment to the government to empower every person in every community. “Since our first humbling experience at Henry Gurney last December, we have been in discussions with the Prisons Department to make this collaboration a reality, and we are really pleased that this partnership will further solidify our commitment to equip inmates with the knowledge and skills that will be useful to them once they have been released,” she said.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Microsoft believes that no single organisation or company can close the global computer science education skills gap, and is therefore dedicated to work in partnership with others. “Our efforts have focused on leveraging long-standing community relationships with our partners around the world to create access to computer science, and break down barriers and stereotypes that are keeping large populations of youth out of computer science education — even when the opportunities are available. Regardless of the career they pursue, we want young people to benefit from understanding how technology works as well as how to create, apply and use it. For young people who are excited about pursuing a career utilising computer science, we will show them how Microsoft can help them build their futures,” said Snapp.
The partnership with the Prisons Department is part of Microsoft Philanthropies’ efforts in bridging gaps across communities. By working together with both public and private organisations, the company aims to help more youths fill jobs related to computer science that will exist in the country as it moves towards developed status by 2020.
“This notion complements a 2015 Microsoft study which found students recognising the value of coding — or software programming — as a core subject in schools. An overwhelming 88 per cent of Malaysian students surveyed said they wanted to know more about coding, and 90 per cent said it was a good career path,” said Jasmine.
Through Microsoft Philanthropies, Microsoft is able to extend its vision of empowerment through four pillars — empowering youth, partnership with NGOs, supporting accessibility for the disabled and by helping those affected by migration processes. Within these four pillars, Microsoft will contribute in new and more impactful ways by connecting the benefits of technology to those who need it most, while working harder to drive inclusive growth of the global economy.
Prisons commissioner general Datuk Seri Zulkifli Omar said: “The participation of the private sector is important in realising the vision of a high-income economy by 2020. Microsoft has put in place sustainable programmes that encourage youth capacity-building in IT. The tools provided in these programmes are enablers which encourage the development of talent based on innovation and creativity that ultimately enhances our national competitiveness. In short, we are using technology to make a meaningful social and economic impact.”