Office of the Ombudsman, Samoa‘s National Human Rights Institution Submission to the Committee on the Rights of the Child – September 2015 Recommendation 24: That the Samoan Government reduce the number of working hours to 4-6 hours per day for juvenile detainees and used the time saved on education and other rehabilitation activities; Recommendation 25: That the Samoan Government establish a remuneration system for detainees in Oloamanu for work undertaken at the detention centre. 11.4 Education and rehabilitation 95. The NHRI would like to see a greater focus placed on educational and vocational activities within Oloamanu Juvenile Centre with the desirability of promoting detainees reintegration into the community so that they can assume a constructive role in society.113 The NHRI does not consider the current system to be fulfilling the right to education suited to the needs of the detainee114, the right to pursue further education115 or the right to receive vocational training116. 96. Current programs include daily bible study led by the prison officers, a weekly cultural day led by the facility matai (village chief) and further church education every Friday led by a local church group. In addition to this, Minsters from Malua Theological College provide a computer room for the facility and deliver two computing lessons per week for prisoners. However, computer classes are only delivered to prisoners under the age of 18 who can demonstrate that they are literate and have some understanding of computing, rendering the facility severely underused. There were also some basic facilities for car maintenance and car mechanic training that was reportedly used on an ad hoc basis. The NHRI concurs with the detainees‘ view that there are not enough educational or vocational programs to prepare them for life outside detention. 97. The NHRI has recently been made aware of efforts by the Commissioner of Samoa Prisons and Corrections and his staff to develop closer relationships with the families of juveniles in detention in order to facilitate a smoother reintegration following release. The Commissioner is working to obtain agreements from families to care and support their incarcerated family during periods of day release. It is hoped that this strengthening of the family unit and reintegration of the detainee within normal social hierarchy will assist the detainee to reintegrate smoothly back into society. The Commissioner has reported that the aim is also to re-establish broken family ties that may have contributed to the period of detention. The NHRI commends these efforts and will support the Commissioner in his efforts to introduce further rehabilitation programs for juvenile detainees. 113 The Convention on the Rights of the Child; Article 40(1) Havana Rules, rule 38 115 Havana Rules, rule 39 116 Havana Rules, rule 42 114 31