F

irman, 18, an inmate at the Palembang Juvenile Penitentiary in South Sumatra, smiled after learning that he could continue his school studies from behind bars.

The distance-learning program for juvenile inmates in the penitentiary was officially launched over the weekend. This first facility in Indonesia is considered a breakthrough, as it is offering Firman and other inmates new hope to continue their studies while serving their prison terms.

'€œI am glad that I can finally continue my studies. I dropped out of school 10 months ago after I was sent to prison,'€ Firman said on the sidelines of the launch of the distance-learning program, which was officiated by South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin.

Firman was a seventh grader at junior high school when he became involved in a brawl between rival soccer fans in 2013. He was found guilty by a court for fatally injuring another soccer supporter with an axe, which led to his being sentenced to three years and six months in prison.

Firman said his distance-learning classes, which are provided by teachers who visit the prison, were like the ones he had attended at school.

'€œThe subjects are all the same except that we are not given homework,'€ he said.

Firman said his dream was to continue studying at senior high school after completing his prison term.

'€œI regret my past actions. I want to be able to make my parents happy,'€ he said.

Ki Agus Maulana Malik Ibrahim, 16, another juvenile inmate who is serving a three-year sentence also for killing someone, echoed Firman'€™s feelings. He was also a junior high school student before being incarcerated.

'€œNow, I can go back to school. Although it is miserable to be far away from my parents, I want to obtain a school certificate when I'€™m released,'€ he said.

Alex Noerdin said that juvenile inmates had the right to receive education.

'€œUpon their release, hopefully they will change and not repeat their mistakes,'€ Alex said.

He said juvenile inmates also had the right to master skills that they could use in the community.

He said the learning program was being conducted in cooperation with SD 25 state elementary school, state junior high school SMP 22 state junior high school and SMA 11 state senior high school, all in Palembang.

Of the penitentiary'€™s inmates, 63 are attending the elementary school program, 73 are on the junior high school course, while 67 are on the senior high school program. The program involves six elementary school teachers, 14 junior high school teachers and 10 senior high school teachers.

Alex said he would offer the school teachers additional incentives for their participation in the distance-learning program.

Article 3 of Law No. 11/2012 on juvenile criminal justice stipulates that every minor who enters the criminal justice system has the right, among other things, to receive an education.

Budi Sulaksana, head of the Law and Human Rights Minstry'€™s South Sumatra office, said that 203 of the 260 inmates at the Palembang Juvenile Penitentiary had joined the distance-learning program.

Those who had already graduated from senior high school, he added, were not obliged to join the program but were expected to join life skill courses conducted at the prison.

'€œIn the past, the Palembang juvenile prison used to have schools, but they were very modest and informal,'€ Budi said.