Prison no bar to diploma as Hong Kong opens first full-time college for adult inmates

Hong Kong's first full-time college for adult inmates, Ethics College, was inaugurated on Thursday. The college is a collaborative effort between a charity fund, a university, and the government, which has committed to providing a wider range of academic opportunities for inmates. The college, situated in Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution in Stanley, will accommodate 60 male inmates for an applied education diploma course. Additionally, 15 female inmates will participate in the course remotely from the Lo Wu facility.

Michael Cheuk Hau-yip, the undersecretary for security, stated at the opening ceremony that the Correctional Services Department has identified a desire among adult inmates to pursue full-time study for an accredited qualification. This is seen as a means to expedite life planning before their release from the institution. The establishment of the college was made possible through sponsorship from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Education Fund for Rehabilitation. Furthermore, the Hong Kong Metropolitan University is contributing by providing teachers and educational materials for the students.

Bernard Chan, representing the Jockey Club at the ceremony, disclosed that the organisation's charity arm had invested HK$43 million into the fund for inmates' education. This investment will cover the tuition fees for all Ethics College students, as well as facilitate remote learning for accredited tertiary programmes and e-learning facilities for other inmates. The 75 inmates enrolled in the college will undertake a one-year programme for an applied education diploma. The curriculum includes mandatory subjects such as Chinese, English, maths, life planning and interpersonal relation, and communications. Students also have the option to choose an elective from interior design, advertising, or public relations and marketing.