MAKKAH — Hundreds of inmates serving time in prisons all over the Kingdom on Sunday joined more than 2.6 million school and university students who started taking their annual examinations. Director of Prisons in Makkah Col. Saleh Al-Qahtani said 198 prisoners sat the finals exams in the region, 68 of them university exams, on Sunday. "The directorate was in contact with Umm Al-Qura University to arrange for the inmates who are students at the university to take their final exams. The students wrote their exams in the directorate's rehabilitation center, which has a school for inmates," said Al-Qahtani. He also said the school formed a special committee to supervise the exams. "The number of inmates studying at middle and high school level are 130 in total. The directorate provides all the facilities and tools needed to enable the inmates to continue their education. The school offers rudimentary and supportive classes, in addition to various educational programs," said Al-Qahtani. He also said the aim was to help the inmates continue their education without hindrance in spite of their conviction and imprisonment. "Upon their release, these students may go back to their schools and continue on their educational path unhindered. Prisons are part of the social development and reformation programs. They are meant to hold offending members of society accountable for their actions, not to produce unqualified and incapable individuals," said Al-Qahtani. He also said the directorate understands that the inmates have families and some are very young and they still have a future to build. "Education is important. All inmates who are still studying are allowed to continue their education," said Al-Qahtani. Baha Prisons Director Lt. Gen. Eshq Al-Shaibani said the directorate has formed three committees to supervise the final examinations of 94 inmates studying in middle school, high school and university. "In Baha prisons, 65 of the inmates are school students while 28 are university students. Nineteen minors held at social protection homes have also sat their exams," said Al-Shaibani. Asir Prisons Director Col. Mubarak Al-Silais said 300 inmates in the region sat their final exams. "Seventy of the inmates wrote university exams, 106 high school, 76 middle school and 32 primary school exams. Sixteen women inmates also sat the exams," said Al-Silais. He added the directorate made sure that all examination halls were ventilated and comfortable for the students.
