Based on a mutually agreed partnership between the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) and the University of Guyana (UG) Department of Sociology, 16 final year Social Work Masters’ students will complete their practical assessment at various Prisons locations countrywide.

The students are required to complete 280 hours of assessment in ten weeks.

At the Social Work Practicum Orientation Ceremony, held on Thursday at the University of Guyana, Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot said the assessment will enable interns to acquire knowledge and a greater understanding of the roles and functions of the Guyana Prison Service.

“It will also enhance your research, analytical observational and evaluative skills, and enhance your ability to acquire practical knowledge and develop a professional orientation towards the Prison System”, Mr. Elliot related.

Additionally, Coordinator Post Graduate Studies at the University of Guyana, Mrs. Debbie Hopkinson said the final year assessment is a valuable research experience for undergraduates and can be one of the most rewarding aspects of the Masters’ course.

The Officer in Charge of Prisoners’ Welfare and Corrections Mrs Marielle Bristol- Grant urged the interns to not approach the venture with fear but to be courageous, confident and assertive while reminding them that helping professions are never easy and require dedication.

Meanwhile, during the ceremony the students were given insights on the Legal Framework of the Prison Service, Roles and Functions of a Welfare Officer, Emergency Response Procedure and Operation Prison Protocol.