Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Prisoner literacy much worse than previously thought

Updated at 9:58 am on 28 November 2008

A new test shows the literacy and numeracy problems of prisoners to be much worse than previously thought.

The Burt Word Recognition Test found 2% of prisoners need literacy help and 17% need numeracy help.

A new screening tool, developed by the Ministry of Education, was also trialed recently on 197 new prisoners.

It found 90% needed literacy help and 80% were not functionally numerate.

The Department of Corrections says the two tests measure different levels of need and the new test is much more sophisticated.

The department recently spent $3.5 million on literacy and numeracy courses at all prisons.

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