| Education Centre, Midlands Prison | | | | Dublin Road, Portlaoise | | | | | The Midlands Prison was officially opened on 9th November 2000. The Education Centre, with a staff of two teachers, received its first students in December of the same year. The Centre currently has a staff of 29 teachers: 18 full-time and 11 part-time.
237 students are taking classes, that is, just over half the current prison population. | | | | Mission Statement: | | | | To provide a high quality, broad and flexible programme of education that meets the needs of those in custody through helping them: | | |  | Cope with their sentence |
| | | | Achieve personal development |
| | | | Prepare for life after release |
| | | | Establish the appetite and capacity for lifelong learning |
| | | | | | Programmes : |
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Head Teacher: Linda Tynan |
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| | | The following subject areas are on offer at basic, improver and advanced levels:
English, Mathematics, Home Economics, Consumer Education, Physical Education, Boxercise, Art, Drama, Spoken Communication, Multi-Media, Business Studies, Accounting, Technical Graphics, Creative Writing, Home Crafts, Yoga, Music, Pottery, Personal Development, Computer Applications, Science, Horticulture, Materials Technology (Wood), Materials Technology (Metal), Pyrography, Technology, Construction Studies, Spanish, French, German, Irish, History, Geography, Sociology, Current Affairs, ESOL, Touch Type: Read & Spell, Pre-Release Programmes and Gaisce as well as a range of other short programmes designed to meet the needs of students. | | | | The Education Centre holds examinations accredited by the following bodies: | | Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) |
| | Department of Education and Science |
| | Open University |
| | Leinster School of Communication |
| | London Guildhall School of Speech and Drama |
| | The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music |
| | | | | | Links to useful websites: | | | | | | | | Contact details:
Education Centre, Midlands Prison,
Dublin Road,
Portlaoise,
Co. Laois |
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