Through the College of Public Administration and Governance, Tarlac State University continually seeks to empower community members through quality education. Believing that education knows no borders, the CPAG administration and faculty extend their reach to Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) in Tarlac.
Fifteen PDLs at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Female Dormitory in Tarlac are now enrolled as college students under the Bachelor of Public Administration Program. Their schooling is part of the CPAG's "Project Hiraya: Isang Landas Pasulong (A Path Forward)," a three-year extension project aiming to reshape the lives of PDLs while winding down the rate of PDL re-offenders by 15% after five years of its implementation.
Specifically, the education program, dubbed "Karunungan sa Kulungan para sa Kinabukasan (KKK): Empowering Change through Jail Facility Education Program," follows the BPA curriculum with 131 units overall, is covered by the Free Higher Education law, and is in sync with the university's academic calendar.
Moreover, this program seeks to make the PDLs feel valuable in the community after incarceration and allow them to secure good and decent jobs.
The academic year at the BJMP Tarlac Female Dormitory opened in August 2024, after the memorandum of agreement was signed on July 24, 2024.
Initially, there were 27 enrolled PDLs during the first semester. The student population was then trimmed to 15 since some had already finished serving their sentence. However, they are still welcome to continue their studies at the Main Campus.
How it started
Before this long-term extension program, the college had successfully conducted various short-term extension activities with the BJMP Tarlac, such as rehabilitation programs, technical assistance to BJMP personnel, livelihood training, psychological and paralegal interventions, and other motivational activities helpful to the PDLs.
City Jail Warden JSINSP Jessica M. Corpuz reached out to CPAG Dean Dr. Edwing T. Caoleng to develop and offer a college education program for the PDLs. The warden targets continuous education and envisions all PDLs under her care to go through their elementary, junior high, and senior high school levels with the DepEd Alternative Learning System. The schooling is a chance for the PDLs to reform and upskill while inside the facility's confines.
As to the newly opened tertiary schooling, the facility will continue accepting first-year students for the next semester. It will be available soon for male PDLs.
PDLs participating in educational and rehabilitative programs are eligible for the Time Allowance for Studying, Teaching, and Mentoring (TASTM) benefit, wherein 15 days each month are deducted from their sentence or possible maximum imprisonment. This is in addition to the regular Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA), allowing for a reduction in their jail or prison term as a reward for good conduct and exemplary behavior.
Top PDL student dreaming of marching along with her daughter
One of the top PDL students is Fairy (not her real name), 39, who hails from Mindoro. She has been incarcerated for eight years. In an interview, she shared how she juggles class, scheduled court hearings, religious activities, and the chores inside the jail, given her designation as PDL program coordinator on a livelihood project, bonsai beads making, which is an income-generating project of the PDLs in the Tarlac City Jail Female Dormitory.
Like other students, Fairy took the admission test to enter the university. She felt motivated to study PA 1 or Introduction to Public Administration. Apart from PA 1, she also enjoyed the Purposive Communication course. Moreover, she obtained three "flat ones" (1.0 grade) during her first semester, showing her deep interest to learn. Reading and reviewing whenever she can is her way to earn remarkable grades.
“Basa po talaga kada gabi. Babalansehin mo talaga 'yung oras mo. Minsan nga po 'yung biruan na mahirap pala 'yung maging working student kasi nga po kapag may order kami ng bonsai beads, habang nagbo-bonsai kami, nandoon 'yung notes namin," Fairy said.
Against all odds, her children remain as her inspiration to strive even more.
“Actually po, nung una, takot ako. Hindi dahil ayaw kong matuto kundi dahil wala akong requirements. Tapos sabi ko kung kukunin nila 'yung requirements doon sa school ko dati sa Mindoro pa, kasi po 'yung transcript ko nung college 'di ko pa nakukuha. So, 'yung kukunin nila 'yung high school. Kaso po doon nag-aaral 'yung anak ko that time. Gumraduate siya ng junior high at senior high doon with high honors tapos kukuhanan ako doon ng ganon, tapos malalaman nila (that she is a PDL)," Fairy told OPA.
She disclosed that no one in their hometown knows she is in jail except for her family. Hence, she is apprehensive about the reactions of people in the said school and even the community, which might affect her child.
“For eight years, mas naging matatag siya (her child) kaysa sa akin. Wala akong karapatang magreklamo, wala akong karapatang hindi lumaban at ipagpatuloy 'yung buhay kahit nandito ako, kasi siya pinipilit niya," Fairy said.
The top student wants to graduate and march along with her daughter, a dean's lister in Mindoro. She said, if time permits, she also would like to attend her daughter's graduation.
“Kung magkakaroon po sana ng pagkatataon, gugustuhin ko po talagang makatapos kasi sayang naman po, kasi mahirap po na paglabas (ko), 'di ko pa alam 'yung gagawin ko. Kasi po syempre nanay, priority mga bata. Pero kung may pagkakaton po, itutuloy ko sa labas kasi pangako ko po 'yan kanila mama at papa ko eh. Kaso hindi ko po nagawa hanggang sa namatay sila. 'Di ko naman nabigay 'yung pangako ko, so baka po ito na yung chance,” Fairy shared.
Continuing her studies after release
According to the warden, Rahima (not her real name), 26, a recently released PDL, opted to continue her studies inside the jail along with other PDLs. She rented a room near the jail facility and sought permission from the warden to enter the facility during classroom instruction.
Her request was granted relative to her academic standing and the after-care activity program of the Tarlac City Jail.
”Pinayagan ko si Rahima kasi nasa top 10 siya tapos nakita ko 'yung interes niya na makapagtapos ng pag-aaral. Siguro ako na muna ang bahala magpaliwanag sa higher office kaysa masayang (ang oportunidad). Ang usapan namin ng CPAG na tapusin niya muna itong semester na ito, then pwede na siya sa Main Campus,” Warden Corpuz said.
On PDLs' exceptional academic performance
Warden Corpuz did not have expectations for the PDLs to become dean's listers. She simply wanted them to learn and earn a bachelor's degree.
“Hindi ko inexpect na magiging dean’s listers sila pero nakausap ko 'yung mga professors nila na magagaling raw sila at willing silang lahat matuto,” Warden Corpuz said in an interview.
According to Mr. Niel Kharl Acosta, CPAG faculty member, most PDLs are attentive listeners and eventually became dean's listers. Surprisingly, the PDL students garnered high marks in almost every examination and quiz. This gave him contentment and satisfaction in light of his struggles going to and from the facility while riding a motorcycle.
“Medyo malayo ito kaya nagmo-motor na lang ako papunta. Pero pag nandito ako, nag-e-enjoy ako sa kanila kasi willing silang matuto. Matiyaga din silang magsulat. Dagdag na din siguro 'yung comprehensive discussions at active na palitan ng opinion at views sa mga topics namin. Ma-cha-challenge ka din talagang mag-isip at mag-prepare kapag magtuturo na sa kanila. Despite their age, mabilis pa tin talaga ang pick up sa lessons at memorization,” Acosta said in an interview. (jlm-OPA)
Photos by Franc Lewis R. Juanatas
