Learning behind bars: Motivations and challenges of learners in a correctional facility in Ghana

Literature on correctional education is replete focusing largely on its effectiveness in reducing recidivism and enhancing rehabilitation of offenders. This paper takes a somewhat different look at correctional education with a focus on inmates’ motivations for and challenges confronted in participating in a basic education programme. Employing a case study research design, this present study purposively selected 30 young inmates in a Ghanaian correctional facility for focus-group interviews. The study found that the need for better employment, life opportunities and literacy post-release were the main push factors for inmates’ participation in the educational programme. With regards challenges, the inmates reported varying experiences from lack of institutional support in learning, lack of teachers coupled with poor teacher attendance, to punishment, which impedes their learning. These findings have significant implications for the design and delivery of future correctional education programmes.