•  
  •  
 

Author ORCID Identifier

Ijeoma B. Uche http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1959-8236

Okala A. Uche http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4508-4784

Agatha U. Nzewuji: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1293-8947

Keywords

Capability approach, correctional education, forensic social work, inmates, rehabilitation, reintegration.

Abstract

This study explores inmates’ perceptions of educational services in Southeast Nigerian prisons, focusing on their role in rehabilitation and reintegration. Using a qualitative design grounded in the capability approach and interpretive phenomenological analysis, data were gathered through in-depth interviews with 15 convicted inmates across three correctional facilities in Southeast Nigeria. Interviews were conducted in English and Nigerian Pidgin, and analyzed using NVivo 12. Findings revealed three major themes: the relevance and accessibility of educational programs, benefits such as improved self-worth, skill acquisition, and hope for reintegration, and key barriers like limited access, inadequate resources, and institutional apathy. Although the capability approach has some limitations in capturing structural constraints, it was valuable for illuminating inmates' agency, aspiration, and life goals within restrictive environments. The study situates these perceptions within the broader Nigerian correctional landscape, where regional disparities including shortages of qualified educators, infrastructural decay, and inconsistent program delivery affect service quality. The study underscores the need for policy reforms that expand prison education and centers inmate voices in social work discourse, positioning education as crucial for rehabilitation, justice, and social inclusion.

.

Author Bio

1. Ijeoma B. Uche is a Senior Lecturer and a researcher in the Department of Social Work, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Her research interests include Correction in Social Work, Community development, Medical Social Work, and other- related social issues. She is a Ph.D holder in Social Work (Corrections). Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1959-8236

2. Okala A. Uche is a Senior Lecturer and holds a PhD in Social Work and Community Development from the Department of Social Work, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. His research interests are mainly on Social Work, Community Development, Corrections in Social Work, Medical Social Work and other -related social issues. Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4508-4784

3. Agatha U. Nzewuji is a Lecturer I and a Ph.D holder in Marriage and Family Counselling. Her research interests are on Family Counselling, Child Development, Social Work. Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1293-8947

Download

Share

COinS