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Education

Two out of five inmates 'read like 11-year-olds'

30/10/2008

Up to 40 per cent of prisoners have a reading age below that expected of an 11-year-old, an influential committee of MPs has said.

"A large proportion of prisoners and offenders serving community sentences have a desperate need of improved learning and skills, if they are to get a job on release," said Edward Leigh, chair of the committee for public accounts.

A report by the committee published this morning stressed the role of basic vocational training in reducing re-offending, but only half of inmates have any qualifications at all.

Efforts to help the offenders with severe learning needs are weakened by insufficient cooperation between bodies meant to address it, the report said.

"The Offenders' Learning and Skills Service was set up to overcome long-standing problems in the delivery of skills and learning for offenders. In practice, it has failed in almost every respect," said Mr Leigh.

MPs on the committee found the service to be badly organised, with no standardised progress evaluation and no core curriculum. These shortages hinder cooperation between the relevant organisations as well as their ability to deliver learning and skills to offenders.

Interdepartmental confusion and disagreement, as well as disorder within the government's own Learning and Skills Council, is hindering any attempt to formulate an effective scheme, the report found.

Calling the situation "counterproductive and wasteful", Mr Leigh called upon the relevant agencies – including the Prison Service and the Department for Innovation and Skills – to work together to develop and uphold clear and consistent priorities, learning plans, and assessment standards.