SOME 300 inmates from various jails in Metro Manila will get the chance to gain formal training to prepare them for jobs when they get out, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Director General Joel Villanueva said on Thursday.

“There’s a future for our inmates beyond the prison walls. With this training, they would be coming out of jail with marketable skills,” Villanueva said.

Under the Bilib I.T. (Information Technology) program of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, which was partnered by Tesda and Informatics, inmates will be given a chance to get formal education and training, even behind bars.

Informatics will take charge of the delivery of the training that would focus on computer-related courses and a Finishing Course for Call Center Agents. Among the courses available are on IT Essentials, Computer Hardware Servicing, Adobe Photoshop, Web Design and English Proficiency.

On-site training sessions would be held at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, Metro Manila District Jail, Quezon City Jail Annex, Taguig Jail (for male and female), and the Manila City Jail Annex.

“We want the inmates to be committed to finish the training and be certified. We don’t want them back in jail. We want them to return to being citizens who have a meaning in life,” Villanueva said.

Early this year, Tesda also trained several inmates, who provided a total of 600 of their colleagues to free haircut and other grooming services at the New Bilibid Prisons and the Correctional Institute for Women.