Region 10 officials call for more welfare officers

…says 2 officers insufficient for 63 schools

Education officials in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) have continued calls for additional welfare officers to be placed in the Region, noting that the two officers who are presently assigned are incapable of managing 63 schools, along with two additional institutions.

The calls were mounted at the hosting of this month’s Regional Democratic Council (RDC) meeting, where Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian, Councillors and an Education Department official voiced their opinions on the issue.
District Education Officer (Secondary) Sonia Fraser-Pearce, who was at the time representing the Regional Education official, was asked by the Regional Chairman what she believed was the ideal number of officers needed to properly service Upper Demerara-Berbice. In her response, she noted that there were presently 63 schools (nursery, primary and secondary) across the Region and there should be at least six welfare officers, as she pointed out that the welfare office of the Region was presently “grossly understaffed”.
“Presently, we have just two officers, who are trying their utmost and sometimes, they are stressed to the max…In addition to that, they are required to visit both hospitals and deal with the issues at the hospitals. So, they have approximately 65 institutions to deal with on a daily basis. And so, sometimes, it is really hard on them to get the work done. Sometimes, transportation is not available; sometimes, money is not available, and so they can’t move as they ought to,” Fraser-Pearce said.
According to Morian, there are issues at schools, which should have already been solved but are still reoccurring. It was highlighted that the two officers were also responsible for schools in outlying areas such as Kimbia, Rockstone, and Kwakwani.
Further, Morian asked what role the Probation Department plays in lending support, to which Fraser-Pearce responded, “not much”. She went on to explain that there was support for truancy campaigns and such, but otherwise, there was no support.
“If they have their programmes to visit schools and do what they have to do that’s it, but to give us that support through the Welfare, no,” she explained.
Councillor Gordon Callender stressed that he would have raised the issue last year, noting that two officers were insufficient. He asked for a letter to be sent to the Social Protection Ministry so that the Welfare Department and the Ministry could work in close collaboration. He further highlighted issues with truancy in Linden, noting that had there been adequate staff this may not have occurred.