NEXUS BETWEEN SKILLS/GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES AND RECIDIVISM IN SELECTED CORRECTIONAL CENTRES IN NORTH EAST, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study aimed at examining the nexus between skills/general educational development programmes and recidivism in selected correctional centres in North East, Nigeria.This study employed a descriptive survey design and an exploratory qualitative method. The instrument for data collection was semi structured questionnaire which were administered to 600 respondents out of 3532 inmates in three selected correctional centers and In-depth interview with eighteen (18) correctional officers/staffs. While the multistage cluster sampling procedure was employed in selecting respondents for quantitative data. Purposive sampling technique was used to select correctional officials who provided the qualitative data for the study. The qualitative data were transcribed and arranged in themes. Findings showed that majority of the respondents (73.4% and 67.4%) were of the opinion that the skills/GED could lead to increase in self-esteem and improved career interest respectively. Many respondents (62.2%) also believe that exposure to skills/GED could raise social consciousness and offer intellectual opportunity to people whose identities have been swallowed by the criminal justice. On the contrary, more than half of the respondents (59.1%) said that exposure to skills/GED by inmates cannot decrease recidivism. Overall, the results suggest that inmates in the sample held positive view of the potentials of the skills/GED. Such positive view could therefore
impact on how inmates might begin to accept various versions of the skills/GED programmes. Further, a graphical detail of the previous data is presented in stacked bar chart. The study recommends among others correctional centers should be formal schools equipped with educational facilities.