30 DOC/OS(XXXIII)/324c/I impossible to undertake high-level studies in prison without the means to pay for distance learning. Year 2001 Classes Overall number of students at all levels Percentage of the prison population Windhoek 87 6.8% Divundu 22 9.5% E. Nepemba 16 12.6% Hardap 147 14.9% Oluno 136 19.8% Prisoners who work generally do not benefit from any theoretical training with the exception of Divundu where 32 prisoners received theoretical training and practice in 1998-99 and of Windhoek central prison, where some theoretical training was given. Other programmes Involvement in religious activities has been on the increase since 1996 and is very much encouraged by the prison administration. One-off information and awareness raising courses are given in most prisons on the following subjects: HIV/AIDS, alcoholism, first aid. The Special Rapporteur recommends that high priority be given to developing satisfactory activity programmes for prisoners. This is crucial for the well-being of both remand and convicted prisoners and for rehabilitation purposes. The Special Rapporteur wishes to encourage the authorities to pursue their efforts and to accelerate the development of activity programmes for juvenile prisoners, at Nepemba Rehabilitation Centre and elsewhere. Although the lack of satisfying activities is harmful to any prisoner, it is even more so in the case of juveniles who particularly have the need to expend physical energy and benefit from intellectual stimulus. A complete programme of educational activities, professional training, leisure and other constructive activities must be set up for juveniles deprived of freedom. Physical education should represent an important part of this programme. Prisoners serving long-term sentences should have access to a wide range of varied and satisfying activities (work which should preferably contribute towards professional training, education, sports, recreational and joint activities, permission to go out in order to develop family ties). Furthermore, prisoners should be able to exercise a certain degree of choice regarding the way they pass the time. This choice would stimulate their sense of independence and personal responsibility. Additional measures should be taken to give meaning to their imprisonment, more precisely, the setting up of individualised programmes of treatment and appropriate psycho-social support are important factors to help these inmates face their period of imprisonment and to prepare for their release. Furthermore, the negative effects of institutionalisation on convicted prisoners serving long-term sentences would be less pronounced. Prisoners would be better prepared for their release if they were able to maintain contacts with the outside world.