A second chance at life!

This is what the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) will offer after inking a partnership with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Region III to provide persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) with access to college education.

For the coming Academic Year 2025-2026, NEUST will offer College Education Behind Bars (CEBB) program made possible through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with BJMP signed on May 9, 2025, at the NEUST Sumacab Campus.

“Through the College Education Behind Bars Program, we open doors of learning to persons deprived of liberty, offering them more than just an academic experience. We offer them a second chance to rebuild their lives with dignity, direction, and purpose,” said NEUST President Rhodora Jugo.

“We recognize that every person, regardless of past mistakes, holds the potential to grow, change, and contribute meaningfully to society,” said President Jugo. “By extending the gift of education to our brothers and sisters behind bars, we are affirming their worth and investing in their future.”

Jail Chief Superintendent Paulino Moreno, Jr., Regional Director of BJMPRO-III, echoed the same conviction regarding this partnership, saying: “Ang kasunduang ito ay isang matibay na hakbang patungo sa isang adhikain: Ang maipagkaloob sa ating mga PDL ang karapatang makapag-aral, makapagbago, at muling makapagsimula.”

“Ang edukasyon ay hindi dapat limitado sa loob ng mga classroom o unibersidad. Ito ay isang karapatang pantao na dapat maabot kahit ng mga nasa likod ng rehas,” said the Regional Director.

Meanwhile, Dr. Nancy Joy Mangansat, NEUST Director for Curriculum Development and Evaluation, said that this partnership is a step forward in making education truly inclusive and restorative.

“It reaffirms our belief that every individual, regardless of circumstances, deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute meaningfully to society,” said Dr. Mangansat.

The College Education Behind Bars (CEBB) initiative is designed to offer academic programs to qualified and interested PDLs, equipping them with valuable knowledge and skills to enhance their prospects for reintegration and productive citizenship upon release.

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