A total of 386 students graduated with diploma, while 170 were matriculated at the joint ceremony held on Saturday at the Efua Sutherland Park.

Nana Oye Luther, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, in her speech read for her, said although Ghana had made great strides in the political, legal, social and economic spheres, same could not be said for the protection of children from violence, abuse and exploitation.

Speaking on the theme, “Child protection in Ghana: Implication for Sustainable Development,” she said the country’s national development goals could not be fully attained if child protection issues were not adequately addressed.

She added that physical abuse of children could lead to child and adult aggression which would not inure to the peace and stability of the country.

The Minister noted that the launching of the Child and Family Welfare Policy (CFWP) for Ghana offers an opportunity and an era that required the School of Social Work to review its syllabus for curriculum reform to integrate child protection and consider adopting a different approach to social work training.

The curriculum reform, she said would bolster social work training and skills development of students as well as teachers.

“It will enable students to have a holistic understanding of issues affecting children in the family and the community as a whole,” she added.

She congratulated the graduating students for the achievement and inspired them to support in promoting social work in the country.

Dr. Mu-Awia Zakaria, Principal of the school, said it had the mandate to train social workers to take up positions in the Department of Social Welfare as social case workers, rehabilitation, community development, probation officers, and social workers in health care institutions.

He urged the fresh students to make maximum use of the opportunity given them and learn well to succeed in their academics.

By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu