Victorian prisoners will sit new academic tests and undertake vocational training programs in a major shake-up of the jail education system.

All Victorian prisoners will do the literacy and numeracy tests when they enter prison even if they are on remand or have received short sentences.

Victorian Minister for Corrections Wade Noonan says better education will lead to a safer society. Credit:Jason South

The revamped prison education system comes amid appalling levels of educational attainment among prisoners.

Contracts to conduct the training programs were issued recently after the first competitive tender process in more than 20 years.