Beijing's room for self-study exam sees two foreigners for the first time. The two foreigners, one from Canada and another from Singapore are both inmates in Beijing's prison. According to regulations, inmates who get junior college degree can apply for commendation and reduction of five months in terms of imprisonment.

Since self-study exam is available in Beijing's prisons in 1995, more and more inmates have signed up for the exam in hope to change their destiny and life. At present, many of them have obtained college degrees. Introducing the self-study exam into prisons is meant to form a beneficial environment that helps the inmates' reconstruction. Special exam rooms have been set in the prisons where many inmates have participated in the exam.

In Beijing's prisons, inmates of Chinese nationality will get award of 200 points, an equivalent to the points given to one month's labor, for each course they pass. If they receive junior college degree, they will be eligible to apply for commendation and request to reduce five months in term of imprisonment. There are corresponding commending measures that are applicable to foreign inmates.

By People's Daily Online