Institution Factors Influencing Implementation of Education Programmes in Prisons: a Case of Kodiaga Maximum Prison, Kisumu County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish institutional factors influencing implementation of education programmes prisons: a case of Kodiaga Maximum Prison, Kisumu County, Kenya. Specifically, the study was set to establish the influence of learning and teaching resources, physical facilities, teachers’ qualifications and teachers’ perception towards inmates on implementation of education programmes in prisons (EPP). The study adopted a case study research design where the target population consisted of inspector of education who is head of EPP, 43 warders (teachers) and 256 inmates (learners) enrolled in EPP. The sample size of this study was derived from 20% of 43 teachers which was 9, 20% of 256 learners which was 51 and inspector of education. Teachers and learners were purposively sampled in order to ensure that those in education programmes in prisons were included as they were of much relevance to the study. The study used interview schedule to collect data from inspector of education. Questionnaires were used to collect data from teachers while focus group discussions guide was used to collect data from learners. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics tools such frequency distribution tables, pie charts and graphs. Qualitative data was analyzed by synthesizing the information from respondents and the information arranged thematically in line with the objectives of the study. The study established that learning and teaching resources influenced implementation of EPP to a very large extent and their availability also positively influenced implementation. Physical facilities were found to influence implementation of EPP to a very large extent. There existed a positive relationship between teacher’s qualification and EPP implementation. Teachers’ qualification was the best predictor of implementation of education programmes in prison. Teachers’ perception level towards learners and effective implementation of education programmes in prison was highandv it influenced the implementation of education programmes in prison. The following recommendations were made: The government should provide all learning and teaching materials the way it provides to public schools, government should also construct more classrooms. Prison department should only assign qualified teachers to teach and teachers should have good perception towards learners for effective implementation of EPP. Suggestions for further studies include; factors influencing implementation of education programmes in prisons other than the institutional ones, Influence of education programmes on prison reforms and a replica of the study should be carried out in another maximum security prison