Inmates may gain access to continuing education subsidy, gov’t says

Inmates in Macau could soon be eligible for the city’s continuing education subsidy, as the Correctional Services Bureau (DSC) is working with the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) to extend the scheme to those in prison.

The move follows a written inquiry from lawmaker Chan Lai Kei, who raised questions about education and training for inmates, employment support for ex-offenders and mental health services at the juvenile correctional facility.

Under current rules, the Continuing Education Development Programme is available only to local residents. But DSC said it is now studying, together with DSEDJ, whether inmates can also benefit when taking courses while in prison.

The bureau already works with schools and universities to offer continuing education and degree programmes to prisoners, and helps them enroll in distance learning courses from overseas. The goal, it said, is to improve their educational attainment and give them the confidence to reintegrate into society.

To help inmates develop practical skills, the bureau has teamed up with community groups and businesses to offer vocational training in areas such as baking, coffee-making, electrical work, MICE operations, theater arts and IT.

According to the bureau, the new prison facility has added new training spaces, including a hotel housekeeping workshop and a catering training center.

On employment support, the bureau collaborates with the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) on a pre-release job program. Notably, since 2006, IAS has run a “Caring Employer Scheme” with 35 small businesses. In 2012, it added job-matching services, and in 2021, it introduced a “Remote Job Search” tool to help inmates understand job requirements before they are released.

Bureau figures show that 62 ex-offenders found work through the scheme in 2025, with another 16 joining the pre-release program in the first half of this year.

According to the bureau, juvenile offenders aged 12 to under 16 receive individual education and counseling plans at the juvenile facility, with dedicated social workers and counselors assigned to each case. The bureau noted that those with mental health or emotional issues are referred to psychiatrists at hospitals when needed. The bureau added that it works closely with doctors and clinical psychologists to develop treatment plans and reports progress to the court to ensure young offenders continue to receive support after their release.