The matric pass rate of prisoners has declined to 75 percent this year from 100 percent last year, the correctional services department said on Tuesday.

Of the 28 prisoners who sat for the new Outcome Based Education matric examinations, 18 achieved distinctions in various subjects, said spokesperson Phumzile Kotane.

Despite this they were still pleased with this year's general academic results of all inmates who had been participating in overall educational programmes. These included classroom tuition through Adult Basic Education and Training levels one to four, and further education and training which was mainly from grade 10 to 12.

"Even though there is a decline in the matric results, overall there has been an improvement in the pass rate on all different educational programmes," Kotane said.

Since 2006 the department had seen "continuous improvements", from a 59 percent pass rate in academic programmes to 64 percent this year.

"The education of offenders is an integral part of the department's rehabilitation programmes, which are mainly designed to be an intervention tool to change the criminal behaviour of offenders," Kotane added.

Sapa