- 2016Implementation
- 2017Implementation
- 2018Implementation
- 2019Implementation
- 2020Implementation
- 2021Completed
Background
Inmates are excluded from participating in activities for upgrading skills and using them in actual jobs. They cannot develop new skills, and at the same time, many of them already have a low level of qualifications and education - for example, almost half of all inmates have only completed primary or lower secondary education, which makes returning as a properly functioning adult in society very difficult. Providing education and enabling the acquisition of new skills supports inmates' re-integration into society. It also reduces the risk of former inmates becoming socially excluded.
Objectives
The project aims to increase the occupational and social activity of inmates and to increase their employability upon leaving prison. New skills and qualifications are intended to make it easier for inmates to obtain a new job and to help lower the risk of social exclusion after leaving prison.
Description
From 2016 to 2020, the Central Management of the Prison Service (supervised by the Ministry of Justice) has been conducting a training project to prepare inmates' return to work after release from prison. The budget of this ESF co-funded project was approximately EUR 31 million (PLN 131 million).
Vocational training courses in different occupations along with labour-market-relevant soft skills training were organised. They were addressed to inmates who voluntarily apply to take part (except for those who will receive a retirement or disability pension after leaving prison) and meet additional specific criteria. Support is given first to inmates who have no education or who have had a break in performing their former profession.
During the training courses, inmates learn different occupations in the areas of construction, care, gastronomy, services and other sectors corresponding to local labour market needs. Courses last from two to six months.
During the five years of the project, in which 130 prisons and detention wards took part, it was planned that over 46 000 prisoners would be trained. It was expected that over 56% of them would take up employment even during imprisonment. A special additional offer was prepared for women. The project complemented the government programme Work for prisoners.
Project implementation continues.
Project implementation continued and training courses addressed to inmates were conducted as planned.
The project, implemented from 2016 to 2020, has been completed.
Bodies responsible
- Ministry of Justice
Target groups
Learners
- Learners from other groups at risk of exclusion (minorities, people with fewer opportunities due to geographical location or social-economic disadvantaged position)
Education professionals
- Teachers
- Trainers
Thematic categories
Supporting lifelong learning culture and increasing participation
Lifelong learning refers to all learning (formal, non-formal or informal) taking place at all stages in life and resulting in an improvement or update in knowledge, skills, competences and attitudes or in participation in society from a personal, civic, cultural, social or employment-related perspective (Erasmus+, Glossary of terms, https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-d/glossary-common-terms). A systemic approach to CVET is crucial to ensure adaptability to evolving demands.
This broad thematic category looks at ways of creating opportunities and ensuring access to re-skilling and upskilling pathways, allowing individuals to progress smoothly in their learning throughout their lives with better permeability between general and vocational education and training, and better integration and compatibility between initial and continuing VET and with higher education. Individuals should be supported in acquiring and updating their skills and competences and navigating easily through education and training systems. Strategies and campaigns that promote VET and LLL as an attractive and high-quality pathway, providing quality lifelong guidance and tailored support to design learning and career paths, and various incentives (financial and non-financial) to attract and support participation in VET and LLL fall into this thematic category as well.
This thematic category also includes many initiatives on making VET inclusive and ensuring equal education and training opportunities for various groups of learners, regardless of their personal and economic background and place of residence – especially those at risk of disadvantage or exclusion, such as persons with disabilities, the low-skilled and low-qualified, minorities, migrants, refugees and others.
This thematic sub-category refers to providing the possibility for individuals who are already in the labour market/in employment to reskill and/or acquire higher levels of skills, and to ensuring targeted information resources on the benefits of CVET and lifelong learning. It also covers the availability of CVET programmes adaptable to labour market, sectoral or individual up- and reskilling needs. The sub-category includes working with respective stakeholders to develop digital learning solutions supporting access to CVET opportunities and awarding CVET credentials and certificates.
This thematic sub-category refers to making VET pathways and programmes inclusive and accessible for all. It concerns measures and targeted actions to increase access and participation in VET and lifelong learning for learners from all vulnerable groups, and to support their school/training-to-work transitions. It includes measures to prevent early leaving from education and training. The thematic sub-category covers measures promoting gender balance in traditionally ‘male’ and ‘female’ professions and addressing gender-related and other stereotypes. The vulnerable groups are, but not limited to: persons with disabilities; the low-qualified/-skilled; minorities; persons of migrant background, including refugees; people with fewer opportunities due to their geographical location and/or their socioeconomically disadvantaged circumstances.
Subsystem
Further reading
Country
Type of development
Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Training for inmates: Poland. In Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Timeline of VET policies in Europe (2024 update) [Online tool].
https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/tools/timeline-vet-policies-europe/search/28482