ISINUSULONG ni Laguna 1st District Rep. Danilo Ramon Fernandez ang pagpapatupad ng libreng primary hanggang tertiary education sa lahat ng preso sa bansa.

Sa kanyang explanatory note sa pagsusulong ng House Bill 6935 o ang Prison Education Act of 2020, sinabi ni Fernandez na sa kasalukuyan, mga preso lamang sa New Bilibid Prison ang nakikinabang sa complete educational program.

“Formal education is not offered in the six other correctional facilities located all over the country,” pahayag ni Fernandez sa kanyang explanatory note.

Ipinaliwanag ng kongresista na tanging alternative learning system at vocational and technical courses ang iniaalok sa mga provincial, district, city at municipal jail na pinamamahalaan ng provincial governments at Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

“This is rather unfortunate since studies after studies have consistently shown that prison education is a proven strategy for reducing criminal recidivism and improving economic opportunities for individuals serving prison sentences, as well as former inmates transitioning into civilian life,” paliwanag pa ng kongresista.

Binigyang-diin ni Fernandez na hindi lamang mga preso ang makikinabang sa formal schooling sa loob ng bilangguan kundi maging ang buong komunidad.

Alinsunod sa panukala, bubuo ang Bureau of Corrections, BJMP at provincial governments, katuwang ang Department of Education at Commission on Higher Education, ng sistema para sa free formal education mula elementary hanggang tertiary level.

Isasagawa ang formal education sa mga penal institution subalit dapat matiyak ang kapakanan at kaligtasan ng mga guro at maging ng inmates.