Child protection officers deserve fair compensation, according to a participant from Lautoka who spoke at the Fijian Teachers Association annual general meeting in Suva yesterday. The participant highlighted the disparity in treatment of child protection officers, who share the same workload as teachers but are not compensated equally.
“They handle the same teaching responsibilities as regular teachers, yet they also engage in additional counseling with other educators,” she noted. The participant pointed out that child protection officers are typically appointed by the Department of Social Welfare and are required to complete forms under the Child Welfare Act.
She emphasized the need for alignment among various government ministries regarding policies affecting child protection work. Furthermore, she called for a reduction in the workload for child protection officers in both primary and secondary schools.
In addition to discussions about fair pay for child protection officers, the AGM also covered financial reports and various issues related to work conditions and salary increases.