Education Technology Day: A Call To Address Prison Education

James Tweed, CEO of Coracle, calls for extending Education Technology Day to focus on prison education. His company provides secure laptops for inmates, allowing them to learn digitally without needing the internet. Tweed stresses that education can help reduce reoffending and calls for urgent action to address digital exclusion in prisons.

James Tweed, founder and CEO of the digital learning company Coracle, is calling for Education Technology Day to focus on the transformative potential of education and technology in prisons. The UK’s prison system is in crisis, yet little attention is given to how education could ease this burden. 

Prison education in the United States is important but faces many challenges and differences. In 2024, about 90% of state prisons have educational programs, but not all inmates take part in them. Many incarcerated people have low levels of education, with many lacking high school diplomas or equivalent qualifications.

The availability of basic education, vocational training, and college courses varies a lot from one prison to another. Problems like insufficient funding, limited resources, and differences in educational achievement among racial and demographic groups continue to affect how well these programs work.

Even with these challenges, prison education is viewed as a key way to reduce reoffending and help people rehabilitate.

Tweed believes the day, celebrated annually on 23rd September to honour those contributing to education through technology, could be a platform to initiate meaningful conversations about prison education.

Coracle’s role in prison education

James Tweed started Coracle to fill the gap in educational resources available for prisoners. His company, based in Cambridge, provides secure digital learning tools to inmates in 90 prisons across England and Wales. These secure laptops allow prisoners to access educational materials from institutions like The Open University and the Prisoners' Education Trust. Tweed was inspired to create Coracle after he donated books to prisons, which eventually led to the development of the company's unique technology platform.

Currently, there are 2,750 laptops in use by prisoners, giving them the chance to study without needing internet access—something most inmates cannot have due to security issues. While Tweed understands the need for internet restrictions, he points out that this lack of access leads to digital illiteracy, making it much more difficult for prisoners to reintegrate into society after their release.

“Prisoners are also one of the few groups in society unable to use the internet as it is banned in British jails. This is understandable and I agree that we can’t allow many inmates to use the internet. However, we must also accept that it often means many are released with no digital skills and so are totally unprepared for life on the outside which is increasingly digital”,  Tweed states.

Prison education’s impact on reoffending

A recent report by Nottingham Trent University looked into the need for higher education among prisoners and how it might affect their chances of reoffending. The report discovered that prisoners are eager to take part in educational opportunities, showing that education could lower reoffending rates by up to 40%. Tweed, who supports greater awareness of these findings, emphasises the importance of education in helping prisoners change their lives for the better.

The study reveals, “the development of accredited digital higher education distance learning opportunities for prisoners”, and also noted that figures from Prison Reform Trust show that higher education can reduce reoffending, which currently costs the UK £18.5 billion per year, by up to 40 per cent.

The cost of reoffending currently stands at £18.5 billion annually. Tweed argues that providing education could significantly cut these costs. 

Tweed, CEO of Coracle, says the report should be ‘essential reading’ for the new government. 

“Currently our prisons are overflowing and we are wasting billions every year on reoffending. Yet here in this report, it is spelled out in crystal clear detail - provide education to prisoners and they will embrace it. Prisoners love their laptops as they are the one thing in their lives they can control. But they also provide a chance to work toward a better life.”

The report also contains testimony from prisoners who have used Coracle’s laptops to access educational material. One prisoner shared how the laptops offered hope: “I'm hoping it opens the door to a chance… It felt like I was actually doing something useful with my time rather than just sitting around doing nothing.” 

Another prisoner highlighted how limited their daily activities were, remarking, “I'd much rather be reading something on a Chromebook than watching the TV.”

A call for action on digital exclusion

While the report highlights the positive impact of education on prisoners, it also emphasises the need for collaboration between prison staff and government bodies to make these programmes successful. Digital exclusion remains a significant issue, according to Tweed, who stresses that this topic should take centre stage on Education Technology Day.

James Tweed added: “Digital exclusion is a major issue. Let’s make Education Technology Day a time when we discuss this as it must be addressed as a matter of urgency.” 

About James Tweed and Coracle

James Tweed is the founder and CEO of Coracle, a digital learning company based in Cambridge. Coracle provides inmates in 90 prisons across England and Wales with laptops, allowing them to access education while in their cells. In April 2023, Coracle received a King’s Award for promoting opportunities for prisoners. James's mission is to end digital exclusion for these individuals.

Coracle’s technology platform enables prisoners to safely access educational content from organisations like The Open University and the Prisoners’ Education Trust, all without needing the internet. It is one of the few companies approved by the Ministry of Justice and HM Prisons and Probation Service to provide laptops for educational purposes to inmates.