Over 900 teachers who are Child Protection Officers in their respective schools are expected to undergo training over the next two months.
Permanent Secretary for Education, Dr Anjeela Jokhan says the closure of schools due to the pandemic would have affected many children as they have been away from structured learning for over six months.
Dr Jokhan adds school closure has contributed to increased anxiety and loneliness in young people.
She further says the ministry is fully committed to the re-opening of schools and taking a proactive approach by training Child Protection Officers and District Education Officers to equip them to deliver psycho-social support services and manage student behaviour when students return to school.
With the theme “Putting Children First”, the training will be conducted in batches over the next 2 months, starting with secondary schools.
Dr Jokhan has thanked development partners, UNICEF and the Fiji Education Programme that have collaborated with the Substance Abuse Advisory Council to deliver this timely training.
Dr Jokhan has assured parents that the Ministry will do its best to ensure that children are well supported with timely advice, coaching and guidance by trained teachers so that students make the transition back to structured teaching and learning as soon as possible.
