5.0 Institutional Program Profiles

During the course of this research project, individual learners and women who were still illiterate were interviewed, along with staff members from a number of local Elizabeth Fry Societies. In addition, the literacy programs currently underway in several correctional institutions were profiled. These profiles are presented first, as a way of understanding the reactions and experiences of the women who were interviewed: for many women, these programs represent the context in which they view any and all literacy programing.

5.1 Profile 1

This literacy program produces a monthly newsletter for inmates at a provincial correctional institution. The program employs four women five days per week, and maintains a waiting list of women who would like to participate. In the course of literacy training, computer skills are also taught, and computer seminars and publishing workshops have been held. In addition, learners have produced handouts on health and childcare, written at a lower readability level in order to make them accessible to as many women as possible. Another project involved re-writing and simplifying the institution's official handbook, in order to make it more accessible.

At the time of the researcher's visit to this institution, them was no classroom instruction taking place. Previously, women had had access to Adult Basic Education courses. However, at this time, no tutors from the community were going into the institution to work with inmates.

Although a week-long peer tutor training workshop had been conducted, with 12 women participating, no peer tutoring relationships were currently in operation. According to the women who participated in the training, inmates who needed help with reading and writing were too self-conscious to ask to help; the stigma, they felt, was too great, particularly in a closed system such as a penal institution. Another problem facing the peer tutoring program was the high turnover within the institution: most of the tutors who had been trained had already left.

Funding for this program is provided by the federal Secretary of State.

5.2 Profile 2

This provincial program only has room for six learners, since there is limited space available in the room designated for literacy training in the institution. The two-month old program, sponsored by the local Elizabeth Fry Society and the Secretary of State, is "learner-centred", utilizing individual and small-group learning. Participants receive $3.90 per day to attend. This is the highest end of the pay scale within the institution, with some jobs paying as low as $1.90 per day.

The program operates four days per week, and focuses on reading, writing and comprehension. Little emphasis is placed on developing mathematical skills. One half-day per week is spent on "life skills", and Friday afternoon is designated "free time", and is spent in whatever activities the group decides upon, such as films, group discussions, etc. The issue of self-image among the women is addressed by having one Native Teaching Day every two weeks. The issues discussed on this day are followed up and reinforced during subsequent life skills classes.