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by Jayampathy Jayasinghe

A program is being worked out by the Social Welfare Ministry, the Colombo University and the University Grant Commission to ease the shortage of qualified social workers in the country by awarding degree certificates to those who intend pursuing a career in social service, a spokesman for the Social Welfare Ministry told the 'Sunday Observer'.

Social Welfare Minister Ravindra Samaraweera held a meeting at his ministry last week attended by top officials from the Colombo University, University Grants Commission, Social Welfare Ministry and the National Institute of Social Development.

Ministry sources said that they have had discussions with the relevant authorities during the past three years to elevate the standard of the National Institute of Social Development to award degree certificates in Social Science. At present the NICD is empowered to issue only Diplomas for their courses. There are only 700 trained personnel to do social work and the dearth of such personnel has hampered social work in the country.

It was learnt that the discussion the Social Welfare Minister Ravindra Samaraweera had with the Colombo University authorities and the University Grants Commission have been fruitful and the degree program is expected to commence sometime in May. The syllabuses have already being prepared in this connection.

Minister Ravindra Samaraweera thanked the Vice Chancellor of the Colombo University, Tilak Hettiarachchi, Dean of the Social Science Faculty Mrs. Yoga Rassanayagam for sending representatives for the meeting.

Prof. Ramanee Jayatileke, Mrs. Srimathy Nallainathan, University Grants Commission's Secretary Chitra Karunaratne, Legal Officer, Vishaka Wanasinghe, Social Welfare Ministry's Secretary, Mrs. V. Jegarasasingam, Additional Secretary, W.H.W. Soysa, R. Ranaweera and B.H.M. Ratnasiri were present at the discussions with the minister.

Social work is a recognised profession in most countries as it provides assistance to people with problems. Professional Social Work education commenced in Sri Lanka in 1952 by the Ceylon Institute of Social Work that came under the purview of the Social Service Department in 1964.

The Sri Lanka School of Social Work has produced about 500 professional social workers with diploma qualifications.

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