PRAYAGRAJ: In August, over 60,000 students from Uttar Pradesh Rajarshi Tandon Open University (UPRTOU) will take their final examinations for their different degree, certificate, or diploma programmes, and 41 prisoners from Naini Central Jail will take their examinations as well. Furthermore, the Open University is preparing to expand its horizons to include inmates from 13 other state jails, who will soon be able to enroll in various degree, certificate, and diploma programmes offered by the state's lone Open University. Inmates of the Naini Central Jail are already enrolled in classes at the state's only Open University.

“Inmates of the Naini Central Jail are already enrolled in classes at the state's only Open University. Following the positive outcomes, the university has received requests from 13 other state prisons to build study centres in their facilities so that prisoners can further their education and determine their futures,” informed the vice-chancellor of UPRTOU, Prof Seema Singh.

“Central and district prisons Agra, Central Jail Varanasi, district/division jail Jhansi, district/division jail Azamgarh, district prison Gautam Budh Nagar, district prison Dasna Ghaziabad, district jail Gorakhpur, district prison Ayodhya, Central Jail Bareilly and Bareilly II, district prison Meerut, and district prison Fatehpur had all made requests. However, except for Fatehpur, the university has already opened study centres at all of the above-mentioned jails, and the Fatehpur study centre would open soon, she noted.

“The inmates of the above-mentioned jails can enroll in any of the courses that they are eligible for in the present session, which ends on June 30,” Singh added. In the year 2019, UPRTOU decided to offer prisoners serving sentences for major offences in Naini Central Jail the opportunity to pursue higher education. They were also awarded a fee exemption of 75%. After observing the prisoners' proclivity for knowledge, the university amended its decision to provide entirely free education to all prisoners housed in the state's jails.

Following recommendations to the university to give higher education to inmates from various prisons, we have begun the procedure, and they will be able to enroll in the new academic session, according to the VC. After admission is approved, course materials will be made available to the inmates at their respective jails, she added.