http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_406522.html
Culinary training for inmates
By Sujin Thomas
Inmates can expect to be trained in culinary skills and cook meals for other inmates when Changi Prison Complex's new cluster becomes operational by end of September. --PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
INMATES can expect to be trained in culinary skills and cook meals for other inmates when Changi Prison Complex's new cluster becomes operational by end of September.
The extension of the training to Cluster B continues what began in 2003 at the current Cluster A which houses more than 5,000 inmates.
The training has involved about 100 inmates annually.
Cluster A's central kitchen facility supplies 8,000 meals cooked by inmates for inmates in Changi as well at the Changi Women's Prison and Tanah Merah Prison.
NTUC Foodfare and the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (Score), which run the programme, signed an agreement to continue working together on Wednesday.
Chairman of Score Mr Kong Mun Kwong said: 'The range of jobs in the food industry is the widest when compared to any other industry. Workers do not require a PhD or Masters degree to become a No.1 chef.'
Inmates who are interested to pick up culinary skills can volunteer for the training. They are later shortlisted and put through courses such as Basic Food Hygiene, Good Manufacturing Practice and F&B Service Training.
A six-month-long course is also offered so that inmates can attain an Industrial Skills Certificate in Food Preparation from the Institute of Technical Education.
A donation cheque for $100,000 was also presented to Score by NTUC on Wednesday.
The money will fund higher learning culinary courses for inmates who show potential.
NTUC Foodfare CEO Mr Perry Ong said: 'The inmates we are training are not only preparing food for inmates but are learning to prepare food of commercial standards.'
Last year, 204 released inmates found jobs with the 254 F&B employers found within Score's network of 1,800 employers. The figure until May this year stands at 88.
Culinary training for inmates
By Sujin Thomas
Inmates can expect to be trained in culinary skills and cook meals for other inmates when Changi Prison Complex's new cluster becomes operational by end of September. --PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
INMATES can expect to be trained in culinary skills and cook meals for other inmates when Changi Prison Complex's new cluster becomes operational by end of September.
The extension of the training to Cluster B continues what began in 2003 at the current Cluster A which houses more than 5,000 inmates.
The training has involved about 100 inmates annually.
Cluster A's central kitchen facility supplies 8,000 meals cooked by inmates for inmates in Changi as well at the Changi Women's Prison and Tanah Merah Prison.
NTUC Foodfare and the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (Score), which run the programme, signed an agreement to continue working together on Wednesday.
Chairman of Score Mr Kong Mun Kwong said: 'The range of jobs in the food industry is the widest when compared to any other industry. Workers do not require a PhD or Masters degree to become a No.1 chef.'
Inmates who are interested to pick up culinary skills can volunteer for the training. They are later shortlisted and put through courses such as Basic Food Hygiene, Good Manufacturing Practice and F&B Service Training.
A six-month-long course is also offered so that inmates can attain an Industrial Skills Certificate in Food Preparation from the Institute of Technical Education.
A donation cheque for $100,000 was also presented to Score by NTUC on Wednesday.
The money will fund higher learning culinary courses for inmates who show potential.
NTUC Foodfare CEO Mr Perry Ong said: 'The inmates we are training are not only preparing food for inmates but are learning to prepare food of commercial standards.'
Last year, 204 released inmates found jobs with the 254 F&B employers found within Score's network of 1,800 employers. The figure until May this year stands at 88.
