- 54 The CPT recommends that the Greek authorities devise means for improving substantially the programmes of activities on offer to inmates (both remand and sentenced) in all the prisons visited. It is also important that efforts be made, inter alia, to extend educational opportunities; at a minimum, classes in basic literacy (reading and writing) should be on offer to all prisoners in need. Further, it goes without saying that no certificates provided to prisoners upon the successful completion of a course should mention the fact that the qualification was obtained within prison. The CPT recommends that the Greek authorities take the necessary steps to expand the educational opportunities on offer to prisoners, in the light of the above remarks. 114. As regards Malandrino, Patras and Thiva Prisons, which accommodate many prisoners serving long sentences, the CPT wishes to reiterate that long-term imprisonment is widely considered to have a number of desocialising effects upon inmates. In addition to becoming "institutionalised", such prisoners may experience a range of psychological problems (including loss of self-esteem and impairment of social skills) and have a tendency to become increasingly detached from the world into which they will almost certainly eventually be released. In the view of the CPT, the regimes which are offered to prisoners serving long sentences should seek to compensate for these effects in a positive and proactive way. Prisoners serving lengthy sentences (including life sentences) should have access to a wide range of purposeful activities of a varied nature (work, preferably with vocational value; education; sport; recreation/association). Moreover, they should be able to exercise a degree of choice over the manner in which their time is spent, thus fostering a sense of autonomy and personal responsibility. Additional steps should be taken to lend purpose to their period of imprisonment; in particular, the provision of individualised custody plans and appropriate psycho-social support are important elements in assisting such prisoners to come to terms with their period of incarceration and, in due course, to prepare for release. Further, the negative effects of institutionalisation upon prisoners serving long sentences will be less pronounced, and they will be better equipped for release, if they are able effectively to maintain contact with the outside world. The relative absence of overcrowding and the potential offered by the existing facilities at Malandrino and Thiva Prisons means that there is no justification for not offering a proper regime to prisoners. At Patras Prison, the development of a gymnasium is a first step but much more should be done to maximise the use of space available within the prison to develop a range of purposeful activities for inmates. The CPT recommends that immediate steps be taken to develop a suitable programme of activities for inmates serving long sentences at Malandrino, Patras and Thiva Prisons, taking into account the criteria identified above.