The report discusses Basic Concepts of prison education in the following areas: international and regional standards and initiatives; assessment of learning needs; curricula of basic education in prisons, adult education methodology; the impact of basic education in prisons; and administrative models for providing prison education and training staff. It also presents views from the International Council for Adult Education. The report includes case studies of basic education projects in prisons in Finland, China, Sri Lanka, Botswana, Germany (programs for non-Germans in German prisons), United States, Egypt, the Netherlands, and Costa Rica. Measures for effective prison education programs include motivation, continuity of educational provision, range of activities, and administrative arrangements. The socializing aims of prison education are similar to those of the entire education system and each can learn from the other. Tables, figures, appendixes, references