Introduction
According to the French justice Ministry, the illiteracy rate in prison is around 10.9 % (2019), and is in fact higher than the national average. 48. 4% of inmates had no qualifications and 22.6% of them had problems with reading.
A partnership agreement between the Justice and Education ministries was set up with a view to organising training courses for prison inmates, and respecting European guidelines. This specifies the conditions of access, the aims, the missions and also the means which go to educating inmates with the aim being their reintegration into social and professional life.
In Europe over half a million people are held behind bars which is why in Europe penitentiary rules are very clear and they specify that all prisons in Europe must provide prisoners with access to learning programmes.
You can consult the 2006 Europe penitentiary rules here (you can get to the part about education after point 28.1)
In 2012, 25% of prisoners received some basic training, and 78.2% of them passed a National Education diploma.
In prison training can be classroom based and also distance learning, however prisoners do not all have access to IT equipment which is why it is important to analyse detention conditions in order to offer a course which is best adapted.
" Prisoners should acquire or develop the knowledge that they will need once they are free in order to be able to adapt socially. This must be facilitated in accordance with the requirements for discipline and security so that prisoners who are able to take advantage of teaching and training can do so and in particular those who are young or you have had little education" as set out in decrees n°93-193 (1993) and n°98-1099 (1998).
It should however be noted that the prison governor has the right to refuse training for inmates, for example in cases of bad behaviour or conflict. This basic right can therefore be removed, and is reserved for the most "deserving". Since 2005 shortened sentences have been granted to prisoners who pass an exam or who make progress in their training. This principle can lead inmates to succeed in their courses only in order to reduce their confinement period.