Child protection officials should receive fair compensation for their work. This message was highlighted by a participant from Lautoka during the annual general meeting of the Fijian Teachers Association held yesterday at their hall on Knolly Street in Suva.
The participant noted the disparity in treatment of child protection officers, despite them handling the same workload as teachers. “Child protection officers carry the same teaching responsibilities as regular teachers but are also involved in additional counseling for other educators,” she explained.
She pointed out that although these officers have a similar workload to teachers, they are not compensated for their extra responsibilities. According to her, child protection officers are typically appointed by the Department of Social Welfare.
“A form is completed under the Child Welfare Act, and many policies need to be aligned among various stakeholder ministries in our nation,” she added.
The participant emphasized the importance of reducing the workload for child protection officers working in both secondary and primary schools.
Additionally, the annual general meeting covered financial reports and discussed various issues related to working conditions and requests for salary increases.