Child protection officers deserve proper compensation, according to a participant from Lautoka at the annual general meeting of the Fijian Teachers Association held yesterday at their hall in Knolly St, Suva.
The participant highlighted the disparity in treatment of child protection officers, who have the same workload as teachers but often engage in additional counseling duties. “Child protection officers have the same teaching responsibilities as regular teachers, yet they do not receive adequate pay,” she stated.
She pointed out that child protection officers are typically appointed by the Department of Social Welfare and highlighted the bureaucracy involved. “There is a form we fill out for the Child Welfare Act, and many policies need to be aligned with those from other stakeholder ministries in our country,” she noted.
The participant emphasized the necessity to reduce the workload of child protection officers who work in both primary and secondary schools.
The meeting also addressed financial reports and discussed various issues, including working conditions and requests for salary increases.