Retraining for prisoners

The Minister of Corrections, Judith Collins, has announced a programme for retraining prisoners "... to help meet the demand for these skills in the Christchurch recovery."

The following is from the media release:

“The second Christchurch earthquake has generated a huge demand for trade skills as the rebuild gets underway. To meet this demand, the Department of Corrections will be ramping up trade training in the areas of highest demand,” Ms Collins said.

“Over the next 12 months, between 130 and 160 new training placements in specific trades will be provided at Christchurch Men’s Prison.

“Three new training workshops will also be established in the low security area of the prison, which will deliver courses in painting, plastering, plumbing, drain laying and gas welding.

“Existing carpentry and joinery skills for house building and refurbishment training will also be expanded.

“The training workshops will be operational by late October and the first group of prisoners will be completing NZQA qualifications in the New Year.”

Very meritorious I'm sure. What, however, about the many thousands of workers who have lost jobs, or will do so in the next few weeks? It would be good to hear of training workshops, courses, and industry qualifications for those who are not in prison. At the moment the reward and punishment system seems to be upside down.

The full press release is here.