SPRINGFIELD | State prison officials are revamping computer education courses for inmates, saying enough ex-cons aren’t receiving jobs in the tech field to justify the cost.

The program, which operated at 11 state prisons with the assistance of community college instructors, was designed to provide computer and business management skills to inmates in order to help them find work or start their own businesses when they are released from prison.

Illinois Department of Corrections officials say a five-year review of how inmates fared in getting computer-related positions after their release found they weren’t getting hired.

"It was determined that offenders were unable to find direct employment in the computer technology arena," corrections spokeswoman Sharyn Elman said in an e-mail.

Also eliminated after the review was a business management course. Elman said about 900 inmates participated in he most recent round of classes.

An estimated 19 instructors and support workers who provided the training are being told they can bid for other prison education jobs.

Elman said she doesn’t think the changes will result in a major cost savings because the classes will be replaced by other programs designed to get inmates ready for jobs. The elimination of the classes come as state government grapples with a $13 billion budget gap.

At least one community college -- Southeastern Illinois -- has announced it was halting its prison education programs because the state is so late in reimbursing the institution for the work it has previously provided.

Community colleges provide a number of different classes for inmates, ranging from automotive repair to horticulture.

The John Howard Association, a prison watchdog group, has raised red flags about cuts to prison education programs because they are designed to help inmates get jobs and stay out of trouble once they leave prison.