THE QUEZON City government is offering Persons Deprived of Liberty detained at the QC Jail Male Dormitory the opportunity to continue their basic education through the first senior high school program of the Schools Division Office.

Mayor Joy Belmonte said that the program is part of the city’s bid to help detainees cultivate skills that they may use once they are released and reintegrated into society.

“Karapatan ng bawat mamamayan ang magkaroon ng maayos na edukasyon. Dito sa lungsod, hindi tayo papayag na maging hadlang ang katayuan o sitwasyon sa buhay para hindi makapag-aral. Sa QC, ang edukasyon ay pantay, inklusibo, at bukas para sa lahat,” Belmonte said in a statement.

“Ang ating mga institusyon tulad ng QC Jail ay nagsisilbing pangalawang tahanan ng ating mga mamamayan na nagbabagong-buhay. Habang narito sila, tinutulungan natin sila ng iba-ibang kakayahan o skills na magagamit nila sa kanilang reintegration sa komunidad,” she added.

The city government signed a memorandum of understanding last week with QC Jail Male Dormitory Warden JSupt. Michelle Ng Bonto, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Brian Ilan, and Fernando Amorsolo Senior High School Principal Mr. Larry Castro.

Under the agreement, the city government will offer the Technical, Vocational and Livelihood Strand specializing in Home Economics including bread and pastry production, cookery and commercial cooking. It will also offer information and communications technology training like animation and computer programming and shielded metal arc welding.

Upon graduation, the PDLs can obtain a National Certificate Level II once they pass the competency-based assessment of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Belmonte said that the city government is also prioritizing the inclusion of technical, vocational and livelihood training and other aftercare initiatives that aim to positively transform the lives of PDLs to become productive QCitizens upon their release.