Inmates at Westgate Correctional Facility will be cooking up a storm next month ? thanks to a partnership between the Bermuda College and the Department of Corrections to deliver culinary education to a inmates.

The Bermuda College and the Department of Corrections yesterday signed the partnership to deliver post-secondary education to inmates at the Westgate Correctional Facility.

Acting president and chief academic officer, Dr. Larita Alford said as of September 12, the Bermuda College would provide culinary education to twelve students at Westage twice a week ? in the prison?s kitchen ? at a total cost of $26,000 a year.

Instruction will be provided by the Bermuda College?s senior chef lecturers, Shawn Ming and Peter Lorenz and will be based on the Diploma in Culinary Arts programme currently offered at the college.

Commissioner of HM Prisons, Hubert Dean said these students would put what they had learned to the ultimate test ? on their fellow inmates ? as each would be employed in the prison kitchen.

In order to participate, inmates will be required to have at least a high school diploma, a GED, or an equivalent qualification, or complete the Bermuda College?s Computerised Placement Test (CPT).

A maximum of 12 students will be allowed to enrol in the programme and will be registered in the student records system and will be able to receive credit for the modules taken, following the successful completion of each.

Vocational Co-ordinator for the Department of Corrections, Dwanita Grant said the programmes would help future inmates find gainful employment upon their release.

The Westgate continues to offer educational programmes to help inmates complete their GEDs and at a recent graduation, 11 inmates got diplomas.