Social workers to require certification<\/p>\n
Tb. Arie Rukmantara, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
To promote respect for the social worker profession, an
\nassociation has endorsed the idea of providing certification for
\nthousands of social workers across the country.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the Indonesian Association of Social Workers
\n(IPSPI), Puji Pujiono, told The Jakarta Post that the social
\nwelfare of Indonesians was deteriorating and social problems were
\nbecoming more complex. Thus, the acknowledgement of the social
\nworker profession was more essential than ever.<\/p>\n
\"Based on this, we, social workers, have agreed to organize
\ncertification to improve our capacity and promote recognition of
\nour profession among the public,\" he said over the weekend.<\/p>\n
He explained that certification would only be required for
\nthose who had graduated from schools and universities majoring in
\nsocial welfare or social work, and who intended to work in the
\nsocial services.<\/p>\n
\"Certification is needed to differentiate professional social
\nworkers from charity workers, who are normally motivated by
\nreligious conviction. Professional social workers possess a
\nspecial set of skills that are imparted through higher education
\nand ethical training,\" he explained.<\/p>\n
Although no up-to-date statistics are available, Puji
\nestimates that there are at least 35,000 professional social
\nworkers in the country, 3,500 of whom are members of the IPSPI.<\/p>\n
Besides encouraging recognition for the profession, he also
\nstressed that certification was essential if Indonesian
\nsocial workers were to be able to compete with their counterparts
\nfrom neighboring countries.<\/p>\n
\"If we don't do it (certification) now, when ASEAN liberalizes
\nits labor market, our country will be flooded with social workers
\nfrom neighboring countries,\" he said, adding that the
\nPhilippines, Malaysia and Singapore had applied certification
\nschemes for their social workers years ago.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully, after establishing a national professional board
\nfor social workers, we can begin the certification process next
\nyear,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Currently, he said, social workers were employed by NGOs,
\nthe Ministry of Social Affairs, universities, hospitals,
\norphanages, charitable foundations and penitentiaries.<\/p>\n
Chairman of Communications Forum for the Community of Social Workers
\nFadhlullah T.M. Daud supported the idea if the main intention was
\nto increase the quality of the county's social workers.<\/p>\n
\"But, the most important thing is that certification should
\nnot prevent people from participating in voluntary activities,
\nsomething that is still not popular here,\" he told the Post.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/social-workers-to-require-certification-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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