500 people expected to graduate out of poverty benefit scheme next year

The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection is aiming to graduate 500 people out of the poverty benefit scheme next year.

Minister responsible, Lynda Tabuya says they started with 10 welfare program recipients from HART homes and single mothers who have gone through the APTC program for 12 weeks.

Tabuya says they have been trained and will be graduating with an Engineers Certificate Level 1.

She further says they are also looking at setting up a fully-fledged Department for Children where there will be a Director for Children as well as child welfare officers dedicated to looking after children.

The Minister says there are social welfare officers who look after adults and then there will be child welfare officers who will be trained to look after children at risk and those in conflict with the law.

She says they are also looking at their legislative mandate when it comes to child protection and child justice.