A week in the life of Jose Aguiar, MIfL.PGCE

My passion is citizenship education and the central role it can play in developing people’s knowledge and skills to play an effective role in society. Citizenship education is particularly important in offender learning institutions where so many learners are alienated and institutionalised. I came from Portugal with a Philosophy degree almost 10 years ago, worked in an FE college in Ireland and then, in London since 2005, I’ve worked with agencies, trusts, MPs and government departments to improve education in offender learning institutions. As a freelance consultant/ trainer I deliver Train the Trainers programmes for the Learning Skills Network, teach in prisons, Honda Institute- Apprenticeship programme, develop programmes and resources and work as an adviser for the Anne Frank Trust UK.

Monday

My week began in a Women’s Prison where I spent the morning with a group of eight women (aged 18 to 45 and ranging from ‘level 1’ to OU degree) delivering a session called ‘ Rights, responsibilities and social justice’. It’s based on the work of three philosophers – Aristotle, Bentham and Kant. As attendance is voluntary I have to captivate their interest in advance and keep it over 10 weeks. It’s the same with all my prison classes and a big challenge but I usually manage to keep everyone through to the end. I do it by using active learning and adapting to their very individual needs. I started by producing a DVD clip to show them what the course would be like and I think my passion and enthusiasm make an impact.

Right now we are organising a ‘Question Time’ session. The women have planned it all, who to invite (Lord Ramsbotham, Juliet Lyon of the Prison Reform Trust, Helen Goodman [MP] have all confirmed so far), what roles they will play, categories of questions and are getting questions from other prisoners. The prison’s ‘Media House’ course members will film it so it can be shown to other prisoners in this institution and elsewhere. The women are very enthusiastic they’ve ‘taken over’ completely, which is great. I approve arrangements and act as communicator. They work as a team, feel listened to and respected; visitors such as these play an important part in that, as well as bringing in new perspectives.

Another 3 hour session in the afternoon with a different group of women. Here I deliver Diversity Awareness, looking at customs, manners, religions based on the personal experiences of these women many of whom come from around the world. This week one woman did a presentation about Morocco. Others are planning theirs. I used the session to help them do their research. In prisons there is no internet access so at home I have to locate resources, download onto CDs, bring in magazines etc. But then it’s up to them. They spend quite a bit of their time each week doing their research outside our class.

Monday evening was spent sorting out some materials for them and doing other ‘prep’.

Tuesday

Working from home in the morning, I contacted guests for the ‘Question Time’ panel and prepared for a meeting with the head of education of The Anne Frank Trust prison project in the afternoon. The Trust will need to adjust its strategy according to new government policies and priorities. I’m conducting research for them to develop recommendations.

Then I travelled to Slough for an evening teaching session at the Honda Institute where I teach Honda apprentices from all over the country. The programme is part of Honda Challenge. I deliver citizenship, diversity and equal opportunities which all Honda apprentices undertake alongside their technical training. Honda’s aim is to create employees who are active, responsible citizens who are committed to safety, the environment and the company’s place in the community. Group work, debate, case studies etc. are essential to keep apprentices alert and interested after the day’s vocational studies.

Wednesday

I’m back in an offender learning institution training their trainers about ‘learner voice’. Eight teachers from various specialisms (literacy, ICT, preparation to work, etc.) are devising ways of introducing a learner rep system into prison classes. Elected class representatives will be part of a weekly student council where they’ll have a voice in programme topics, content and resolving problems. Learner voice is crucial but quite difficult to put in place in a prison where the learners are often unused to feeling listened both inside prison and outside too.

In the afternoon I work with prisoners who are elected ‘diversity reps’. They help other prisoners deal with complaints, either resolving them or escalating to prison managers. There are reps for foreign nationals, race relations, age, disability, etc. Each has a seat on the Race Equality Action Team (REAT) committee. There are lots of skills for them to learn, all of it useful when they leave too.

Evening sees me attending a ‘networking’ event at the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, a great opportunity to exchange information and ideas.

Thursday

In an adult male offender learning institution in London, I work with 2 different groups of offenders. With the first it’s exploring voting, as part of the citizenship curriculum. The issue of prisoner rights to vote has created a lot of interest. But many prisoners don’t understand the voting system and rarely if ever voted ‘outside’. They have lots of misconceptions too. Whilst in prison they have time to read papers, watch TV and take an interest in how political processes affect not just them but their families too.

With the second group the theme is Intolerance in Society. London prisons are very diverse, a microcosm of the world outside, with extremism that needs to be countered by education. We read newspaper articles, watch clips from the Free2Choose DVD and debate fundamental issues like the borderline between freedom of speech and incitement to hatred.

Thursday evening I attended the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) for a panel discussion on ‘Who is failing our children’. It’s all grist to the mill of ideas as well as something I really enjoy doing. I get my ideas from all sorts of people and places; attending lectures like those organised by the RSA and the New Economics Foundation, watching TV, reading. I use social networking sites, including Twitter and Facebook, where I have conversations with people who either teach in prisons or are active in prison reform. This can lead in many directions and keeps me constantly fresh and motivated. This is my CPD, it really is ‘continuous’, but I don’t get round to logging it as that. I know I should!

Friday

Friday morning I spent preparing reports (including analysing the evaluation forms) for my Training the Trainer sessions, plus some assessment of students’ portfolios. Most of my courses are OCN accredited. In the afternoon I visited an art gallery. I try not to work from Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon when I need to do any outstanding preparation for the week to come. It’s a busy life but it isn’t stressful because I love and believe in what I’m doing and I feel it makes a difference to some people’s lives.