Sha Tsui inmates earn 235 certificates in academic and vocational exams
Sha Tsui Correctional Institution held an awards ceremony for 83 young inmates who earned 235 certificates in academic and vocational exams. Twenty-one inmates received 103 certificates, with 22 achieving distinction. The ceremony featured cultural performances and a multimedia presentation.
The Sha Tsui Correctional Institution on Wednesday 28 October held a certificates presentation ceremony for young inmates who sat academic and vocational examinations over the past year, the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department announced.
Eighty-three inmates aged 14 to 24 enrolled in distance-learning courses from Hong Kong Metropolitan University or took exams including the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education, Cambridge English exams, Caritas Community College tests and qualifications run by the Employees' Retraining Board, HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education, the Construction Industry Council, Tom Lee Music Foundation, Christian Action and the Vocational Training Council. The exams covered subjects such as elementary Cantonese cooking and kitchen training, basic coffee shop beverage preparation, basic Western pastry and dessert making, food hygiene management, logistics management, multimedia design, artificial intelligence knowledge and application, and building services.
In total they obtained 235 certificates, of which 48 were graded as distinction. Among the 21 inmates attending the ceremony, they received 103 certificates, including 22 with distinction.
Guest of honour Mr Ha Tak-kin, chairman of the Sin Toa Tan Association, said his organisation strongly supports the Correctional Services Department's rehabilitation work and has set up the 'Sin Toa Education Fund' to provide financial support for inmates' education and vocational training. He encouraged the young inmates to equip themselves well so that after returning to society they can apply what they have learned and contribute to the community.
The ceremony included a dragon dance performance by the young inmates and a multimedia video they produced, accompanied by a live music performance, showing their training journey and determination to reform. During a sharing session, one inmate spoke about his rehabilitation journey, thanking his family for their unwavering support and correctional officers for their guidance, promising to study hard and repay the support of his family and society.
Sha Tsui Correctional Institution houses male juveniles aged 14 to under 25. The Correctional Services Department runs half-day education and half-day vocational training programmes for inmates at training centres and rehabilitation centres to help them reform, equip themselves and prepare for reintegration into society.
