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SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 25. 1989
SOCIAL WORKER A REWARDING PROFESSION
PART OF THE LETTER READ LIKE THIS:
"I DIDN'T LIKE THE STAFF HERE WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED. BUT AFTER ALL THESE DAYS. I'VE COME TO LEARN THAT THEY REALLY CARE FOR US.'
THIS IS A LETTER WRITTEN BY A FORMER RESIDENT TO SOCIAL WORKER MRS ANNA MAK. SUPERINTENDENT OF A SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT INSTITUTION.
THE DEPARTMENT HAS SEVEN INSTITUTIONS ΤΟ PROVIDE REMAND AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND YOUTH IN NEED OF STATUTORY CARE AND PROTECTION.
'IT GAVE ME QUITE A THRILL WHEN I LEARNT THAT THE EFFORTS WE MADE HAD NOT BEEN WASTED. SHE SAID.
"RESIDENTS IN SWD INSTITUTIONS ARE NOT MUCH DIFFERENT FROM OTHER TEENAGERS WHO ARE LEADING A NORMAL LIFE. EXCEPT THAT THE OTHERS ARE TAKEN CARE OF IN THEIR FAMILY.
"WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS TO PROVIDE CHARACTER TRAINING IN A RESIDENTIAL SETTING WITH A VIEW TO CHANGING THEIR BEHAVIOUR AND SOCIAL ATTITUDE THROUGH SOCIAL WORK TECHNIQUES AND SKILLS. SHE SAID.
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OUTLINING THE TRAINING PROGRAMMES IN THE INSTITUTIONS. SHE SAID THEY COVERED THRER MAJOR ASPECTS. NAMELY MORAL. ACADEMIC AND PREVOCATIONAL TRAINING,
"AS RESIDENTS ARE MOSTLY REBELLIOUS ADOLESCENTS WITH DEVIANT BEHAVIOUR, MORAL TRAINING IS STRONGLY EMPHASISED.
"THEY WOULD BE HELPED TO ADOPT A SET OF POSITIVE AND SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE VALUES. BEHAVIOUR AND ATTITUDE THROUGH CASEWORK COUNSELLING AND GROUP WORK APPROACHES. SHE ADDED.
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ON PREVOCATIONAL TRAINING. MRS MAK SAID THE PROGRAMME AIMED PROVIDING BASIC TRADE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO RESIDENTS AND CULTIVATING IN THEM A POSITIVE WORK ATTITUDE.
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"SINCE SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR. QUALIFIED TEACHERS HAVE BERN EMPLOYED TO ASSIST OUR RESIDENTS IN THEIR ACADEMIC PURSUITS, MRS MAK SAID.
"THE SCHEME HAS GAINED FULL SUPPORT OF OUR SOCIAL WORK STAFF. WE THINK IT IS IDEAL THAT ACADEMIC TEACHING CAN BE ENTRUSTED ΤΟ QUALIFIED TEACHERS. THUS RELEASING SOCIAL WORK STAFF TO CONCENTRATE ON COUNSELLING AND RELATED SERVICES.
"WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING OUT AN EFFECTIVE AND PRACTICABLE SYSTEM. WHEN NEW MRASURES ARE INTRODUCED. IT IS COMMON FOR ALL. PARTIES. TEACHERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS. ΤΟ ALLOW TIME FOR ADJUSTMENT. MRS MAK SAID.
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