Juvenile inmates take the college entrance exam as Mandela School provides a second chance

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Juvenile inmates take the college entrance exam as Mandela School provides a second chance

Published: 16 Nov. 2023, 15:18 Updated: 16 Nov. 2023, 15:53

Juvenile inmates at Seoul Nambu Detention Center in Guro, Seoul, prepares for the College Scholastic Ability Test on Thursday. [NEWS1]

The head of the “Mandela School,” an education program for juvenile inmates at Seoul Nambu Detention Center, Kim Jong-han, said the students were filled with determination before taking the college entrance exam on Thursday.

The 10 inmates — along with half a million other students nationwide — took the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) on Thursday.

“I felt good looking at the students that walked into the room [where the test was held] with determination,” Kim said while appearing on a CBS radio show. “They said they will try to solve as many questions as possible.”

“I held the hands of each student and told them that while the test itself may be a burden, they should do their best,” Kim said. “I told them that the test was the beginning of their new challenges.”

The Justice Ministry began the education program — named after the anti-apartheid activist and South African President Nelson Mandela — in March.

The education program is only available for people 17 years old or younger.

Some 36 students are enrolled in the program. Some 27 of them passed the high school equivalency tests, and 10 decided to take the CSAT.

“I was surprised when I was told that the students were studying for their test, memorizing English words until 1 a.m.,” Kim said.

Head of the “Mandela School,” an education program for juvenile inmates at Seoul Nambu Detention Center, Kim Jong-han greets inmates that are taking the college entrance exam at the detention facility in Guro, Seoul, on Thursday. [NEWS1]

The entire day starts at 8 a.m. in a classroom in the detention center. Classes end around 5 p.m.

After eating dinner, they would study until nine.

This routine continued even on weekends.

“There were doubts when the program first started,” Kim said. “But once we started, the students showed interest in even the slightest progress,” Kim said.

He said some students who couldn’t even differentiate the letters “B” and “D” started to work hard to catch up with other students.

Kim addressed skepticism over spending taxes on a program that benefits people who broke the law, no matter how young.

“If they are released after receiving the necessary education for people so young and at the most important period in their lives, and they live as normal members of society, we will be able to prevent a second or third victim,” Kim said. “That is the goal of the correctional program.”

He added that the students, by studying, have started to talk or write about the wrongs that they had committed.

“Although others may see them as criminals, some students, as they study here, started to talk about becoming a vet or an interior expert,” Kim said. “I hope they will be reborn [from this experience] and live a new life.”

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]