SUVA, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Over 900 teachers who are child protection officers in Fiji's schools will undergo training over the next two months as the country prepares to reopen schools after more than six months of closure due to COVID-19.

An online training program for child protection officers was launched by Permanent Secretary for Education Anjeela Jokhan.

"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 psychosocial support services and manage student behavior when students return to school," Jokhan said on Tuesday.

"The closure of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic had affected many children as they have been away from structured learning for over six months. School closure has contributed to increased anxiety and loneliness in young people. Child stress, sadness, frustration, indiscipline, and hyperactivity are also expected to be prevalent and to deal with these, teachers need to be fully prepared," said Jokhan.

At the end of the training program it is expected that every school will have a trained child protection officer who can attend to students as and when required, and train other teachers within their schools. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)