Head teacher at Cork Prison: ‘We need to invest more in education’

“Education holds such power,” says Edel Cunningham, the recent recipient of the Bertram Windle Award from University College Cork.

Honouring outstanding contributions to adult education, life-long learning, and the advocacy of access for non-traditional students, the award was presented to Ms Cunningham for her work in the Cork ETB Education Unit in Cork Prison.

“Whether it’s an ability to read and write, or getting the Leaving Cert, education affects everything. It must be so frustrating to not be able to read and write. It’s hard to imagine, when the whole world is designed around it,” said Edel.

She refers to the celebration of Dyslexia Month as a stark example.

“When you think about it, we have posters up about dyslexia but some people might not be able to read these posters. On top of that, technology makes it difficult. It is so difficult to manage without reading and writing. Everything requires 2-step verifications. Imagine navigating that when you can’t read."

As an educator, she has always been interested in going beyond the obvious settings. After qualifying as a teacher of home economics, she moved to Zambia, teaching in a youth project that delivered catering, tailoring, woodwork and metalwork subjects.

After a brief stint in Dublin, she settled in Cork. When a job came up with Cork ETB, she applied her usual philosophy – to ‘give it a shot’.

Home Economics and the Art Of Multi-tasking

Edel is grateful for her training in home economics when it comes to her current role.

“It’s a very practical subject and it can be very therapeutic for some people in prison to ‘do’. It’s therapeutic. It’s also a subject that trains you to multi-task very well. In a mainstream setting, a home economics teacher is the one managing the kitchen, all the ingredients and all the students.”

She is quick to point out, however, that teaching in prison is nothing like teaching in mainstream.

I’ve heard it described as being like teaching on a bus. Your students are constantly changing and students you have in your class in September won’t be the same come April or May. There’s a great deal of coming and going because of transfers.

This can be frustrating, she explains.

“It can be very hard to keep a student with you in education when they are moving so often. We have the first student getting his degree with us this year. We had another student last year but he got transferred to an open prison and received it there. We were disappointed but the prison service is hugely overcrowded so we understand when someone needs to move on to free up space.”

Education as Changemaker

Edel is committed to her work. UCC said that for many years, she has been a “leader in education within the prison itself and a driver behind extending educational opportunities for the female relatives of prisoners and ex-prisoners,” adding that her approach has been “life-changing”, not only for prisoners and ex-prisoners, but for their families and their communities.

“Education is critical to people’s lives,” Edel says. 

If we were to walk through the prison together, you would see that the vast majority of people in there are from socioeconomically disadvantaged areas and many will have left school early.

She is aware that crime is escalating in our cities, but doesn’t see prison as the easy answer.

“Instead, we need to invest in education at a younger age for everyone, but especially those who might be more at risk, and we need to invest more in education in prisons. It’s very upsetting to see people doing really well in here, then leaving and finding themselves homeless. We need to make sure they can continue in education so we don’t undo years of good work.”

Edel recalls one prisoner in particular.

“I remember he went into a hostel and got robbed twice. First he lost his passport and then his licence. His life was so chaotic.

Homeless services do their best but education is key. It is so important that a person can continue in education after release and this includes making sure that they have secure accommodation.

The passionate educator also sees an increased role for educational psychologists.

“Assessments are carried out once a week in the prison, through Cork ETB. This provides additional hours and so our tutors can offer more tailored supports. There is a lot more to be done however. For instance, working with families is essential. If a father is in prison, we need to check who is supporting the mother to get the children to school. If the mother’s mental health is suffering, that can have a really detrimental effect.”

This isn’t about being soft, according to the headteacher. It also makes financial sense.

“It would be fascinating to do a cost analysis on the savings these types of support would offer the health system and the criminal justice system.”

Dillon’s Cross Project

Edel brings up the Dillon’s Cross Project, a support hub for the families of prisoners in the Glen, delivered by teachers/tutors with Cork ETB.

“That’s a great example of what I mean,” she enthuses. “There were so many children there this summer attending the camp, getting positive feedback, feeling good about themselves. Minister O Donovan visited and it meant a lot to them that he was there, shaking their hands and giving them that time.”

“Higher and further education is something we want these young people to engage with. If they see their parents engaging with it, they are more likely to follow suit. It is the same for all of us – without a shadow of a doubt.”

Education can have a broader meaning too, she explains.

“Training in mediation is very powerful. Families can be chaotic and they can struggle with listening and communicating in a healthy manner. 

Education can help people to understand the triggers that can provoke unhelpful behaviour.

“We also run programmes in addiction. Ten students graduated in the prison this year with UCC and it was wonderful to see them in their caps and gowns. Another eight students completed a qualification in mediation.

“We also have a course with UCC students studying in the prison alongside learners there. It’s really great for breaking down stereotypes on both sides.”

Edel Cunningham ends our conversation on a sombre note – a point that should be heard in every school in the country.

“So often,” she reflects with genuine sadness, “I come across people in prison who tell me the education they receive with us is their first positive experience of education in their lives.”

Whatever her concerns about the education system, she is delighted to have received the award, presented at the annual Alfred O’Rahilly lecture, which was hosted by UCC’s Adult Continuing Education (ACE).

“It is wonderful to work for an organisation such as Cork ETB, which understands the importance of supporting students at every level, and epitomises their motto, ‘a pathway for every learner’,” she added.