Abstract:
This study employed convergent parallel mixed methods design to examine the transformative effect of education programmes as perceived by ex-offenders within the South African Department of Correctional Services (DCS). The DCS delivers education programmes to incarcerated people in compliance with Section 29 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. The theoretical framework which underpins this study is the Good Lives Model (GLM) of offender rehabilitation.This research was influenced by John Dewey’s Pragmatic Paradigm. Inquiry was conducted in two Regions; Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal. A convergent parallel mixed methods approach was adopted throughout this study. In-depth interviews and questionnaires were utilized as data collection instruments in the research field. Pilot testing of a questionnaire form was conducted to five (5) exoffenders with demographic characteristics similar to the research sample. A total of fifty-two (52) ex-offenders who attended education programmes in the DCS; forty (40) questionnaires and twelve (12) in-depth interviews) were involved in this study. Both data types; quantitative and qualitative were collected concurrently or parallel and given equal status during data collection (Molina-Azorin & Cameron, 2010, Small, 2011, Creswell, 2013, Creswell & Plano Clark, 2007). Analysis of questionnaires and in-depth interviews data were performed independently. Data integration was performed at design, methods, results and discussion levels (Fetters & Freshwater, 2015, Ivankova, 2015). The main research findings demonstrate that education programmes promote offender transformation, reduce recidivism rate, improve quality of life, improve literacy levels and a criminal record is a barrier to ex-offenders’ employment in communities. Based on the research findings, this study concludes that education programmes enhance offender transformation, reduce recidivism rate, improve quality of life, improve literacy levels and ex-offenders struggle to secure employment opportunities in communities due to a criminal record. This study recommends further research on the transformative effect of education programmes in other Regions, the DCS should prioritize implementation of technical, vocational and entrepreneurial education programmes and a policy which facilitates ex-offenders’ employment to reduce recidivism rate should be developed. Finally, this study proposes a Student Transformation Model for guiding implementation of education programmes within the South African Department of Correctional Services.
