Minga Guazú, Alto Paraná. — More than 800 inmates at the Minga Guazú Social Reintegration Center were surveyed in late August as part of an unprecedented initiative that will pave the way for school classes to be introduced inside the prison starting in the 2026 academic year.

The census, carried out between August 27 and 29, involved 10 teachers sent by the Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC), who administered detailed questionnaires to 828 incarcerated individuals. The data collected will serve as the foundation for educational programs ranging from literacy and bilingual basic education to technical training.

The initiative is part of Paraguay’s New Prison Management Model, which emphasizes two key pillars for social reintegration: work and education. The Ministry of Justice’s Directorate of Welfare and Social Reintegration closely accompanied the effort. Its director, Rosalía González, highlighted the importance of the project:

“Education transforms lives, and its arrival in Minga Guazú represents a concrete opportunity for personal and community development,” she said.

Officials stressed that the program is not only designed to expand learning opportunities for inmates, but also to strengthen public safety and improve social reintegration once individuals complete their sentences.

With this step, the Minga Guazú facility joins a nationwide strategy to modernize Paraguay’s prison system, creating pathways for knowledge, skills, and new opportunities behind bars.

By: Jhon Candia