DAMMAM: Prisoners who complete education and professional programs set up by the prison administration, including earning a university degree, will have their prison sentences cut by 15 percent.

This is according to Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Al-Hamzi, the director general of the General Directorate of Prisons in the Kingdom, who was speaking at the graduation at Alkhobar prison of the first group of inmates from the University of Dammam. Three out of seven studying earned bachelor’s degrees in business management, a local publication reported.

Al-Hamzi said the partnership with the university has been successful, especially since the program was tailored to prepare students for the labor market. He said the program submitted by the university through its director Abdullah Al-Rabeesh would be presented to the Education Minister Ahmed Al-Eissa so that it could be expanded to other universities.

He said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, deputy premier and interior minister, wants more inmates to complete their education and become productive members of society. He said there is cooperation with the University of Hail to train inmates in computer sciences.

The program first began in Riyadh and Jeddah and would be expanded to other regions, said Al-Hamzi. There is also a proposal to set up a kindergarten for the children of inmates, but this is still at an early stage, he said.

Al-Rabeesh said that 125 inmates in Eastern Province prisons have enrolled at the university since the program started three years ago. He said distance learning inmates achieve scores of 3.6 out of 5, which is better than those who are learning in distance programs from their homes and surrounded by their families and children.

He said such figures confirm the commitment of inmates and the prison department’s ability to provide suitable learning environments for them to complete their studies and become active members in society once again.

He said the partnership with the Sons of Abdulrahman Al-Rajhi Charity also helps inmates get education and find gainful employment, which allows them to quickly become part of their communities.

Al-Rabeesh also revealed that the university was looking at other rehabilitation programs for inmates, apart from normal degree courses, to help enhance their skills.