Paper trails: Prison officials helping inmates prepare for exams
Cops monitor inmates taking the exams and also help them prepare.
FAISALABAD:
In order to hold transparent exams, jail officials have been ordered to monitor prisoners through CCTV cameras as well as invigilate on site at various examination centres in the district.
“There are dozens of inmates who will be taking their intermediate exams this year and we have set aside rows in the exam centres that will allow police officials to easily monitor them during the test,” said Chak 44 SL exam centre in-charge Asim Hadi. “The prisoners handcuffs will be removed for the test but their feet will still be cuffed and they will not be allowed to leave the room without a police official accompanying them,” he added.
Police officials at every major station have been requested to ensure that inmates sitting for the exams this year are closely monitored and accompanied to and from the police station with a full contingent of police. Regional Police Officer (RPO) Aftab Ahmed Cheema said “I have issued strict instructions to all SHOs and DPOs in this regard and they are closely monitoring the situation.
We want to ensure that inmates can easily take their exams. Police administration has also been asked to assist the inmates with any materials they require in preparing for their exams,” Cheema said.
In the Ghulam Muhammadabad police station, two police officials were observed helping inmates prepare for their exams. “I have been spending three hours with seven of our inmates who will be sitting for the matriculation exams,” said Inspector Rauf Shehzad. Shehzad said that he had failed his intermediate on the first try and had barely passed the second time. “I wish that I had studied harder when I was sitting my exams so I have I asked permission from the superintendent to help the inmates prepare for the exams,” he said.
“A week ago, Rauf and another inspector Saad came to me and asked me to allow them to shift the inmates sitting for their exams in two adjoining cells and I gave them my permission,” said SP Salman Chaudhry. “Ever since they have been sitting with them and helping them prepare every evening. The inmates have been studying hard and the inspectors then help them memorize their subject and quiz them on it,” he said. “I am very proud of these inspectors for trying to help these boys. The only real way we they can be rehabilitated is if they get an education,” Chaudhry said.
“It has been an experience finally learning rather than rote learning through these boys. They will sit the exam this year but I feel like I will be sitting it with them because we have been studying together,” said Inspector Saad Pervaiz. “I helped them prepare for their Islamiyat and History papers but Rauf was better at English so he helped them with that,” he said.
“I never thought that I would end up making friends while in prison but somehow preparing for the exams together has brought us closer,” said inmate Bilal, 16.
A total of seven prisoners from the Ghulam Muhammadabad tehsil will be sitting the exams this year and the inmates said that police officials had been very supportive. “
They leave the light on longer for us to prepare and helped us get materials to study but the best help was them discussing the subjects with us,” said Ameen, 14.
Rauf said that he would be on duty to invigilate at the centres during the exams. “I wish these boys well because they have been working hard,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 12th, 2011.
In order to hold transparent exams, jail officials have been ordered to monitor prisoners through CCTV cameras as well as invigilate on site at various examination centres in the district.
“There are dozens of inmates who will be taking their intermediate exams this year and we have set aside rows in the exam centres that will allow police officials to easily monitor them during the test,” said Chak 44 SL exam centre in-charge Asim Hadi. “The prisoners handcuffs will be removed for the test but their feet will still be cuffed and they will not be allowed to leave the room without a police official accompanying them,” he added.
Police officials at every major station have been requested to ensure that inmates sitting for the exams this year are closely monitored and accompanied to and from the police station with a full contingent of police. Regional Police Officer (RPO) Aftab Ahmed Cheema said “I have issued strict instructions to all SHOs and DPOs in this regard and they are closely monitoring the situation.
We want to ensure that inmates can easily take their exams. Police administration has also been asked to assist the inmates with any materials they require in preparing for their exams,” Cheema said.
In the Ghulam Muhammadabad police station, two police officials were observed helping inmates prepare for their exams. “I have been spending three hours with seven of our inmates who will be sitting for the matriculation exams,” said Inspector Rauf Shehzad. Shehzad said that he had failed his intermediate on the first try and had barely passed the second time. “I wish that I had studied harder when I was sitting my exams so I have I asked permission from the superintendent to help the inmates prepare for the exams,” he said.
“A week ago, Rauf and another inspector Saad came to me and asked me to allow them to shift the inmates sitting for their exams in two adjoining cells and I gave them my permission,” said SP Salman Chaudhry. “Ever since they have been sitting with them and helping them prepare every evening. The inmates have been studying hard and the inspectors then help them memorize their subject and quiz them on it,” he said. “I am very proud of these inspectors for trying to help these boys. The only real way we they can be rehabilitated is if they get an education,” Chaudhry said.
“It has been an experience finally learning rather than rote learning through these boys. They will sit the exam this year but I feel like I will be sitting it with them because we have been studying together,” said Inspector Saad Pervaiz. “I helped them prepare for their Islamiyat and History papers but Rauf was better at English so he helped them with that,” he said.
“I never thought that I would end up making friends while in prison but somehow preparing for the exams together has brought us closer,” said inmate Bilal, 16.
A total of seven prisoners from the Ghulam Muhammadabad tehsil will be sitting the exams this year and the inmates said that police officials had been very supportive. “
They leave the light on longer for us to prepare and helped us get materials to study but the best help was them discussing the subjects with us,” said Ameen, 14.
Rauf said that he would be on duty to invigilate at the centres during the exams. “I wish these boys well because they have been working hard,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 12th, 2011.