Children in conflict with the law not getting fair share of training: COA

- Advertisement -

STATE auditors have called out the disparity in training made available by the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC) to the staff of Bahay Pag-Asa (BPA) compared to those given to residents who are children in conflict with the law (CICL).

Records of training conducted in various Regional JJWCs in 2023 showed Bahay Pag-Asa showed there were only 22 training for CICLs compared to 90 given to BPA staff. These did not include life-skill training given to residents and staff in eight out of 15 regions.

Based on the breakdown, only BPAs in five regions offered training to BPA residents: nine in the National Capital Region (NCR), two in Region 5, five each in Regions 8 and 10, and in Region 9.

- Advertisement -

Bahay Pag-Asa in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Caraga, and Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, 6, 11, and 12 did not provide any training for the CICLs during the year.

On the other hand, with the sole exception of Region 4B, all Regional JJWCs provided training to BPA staff: 16 in Region 6; 15 in NCR; 12 each in Regions 4A and 10; five in Regions 5 and 12; four in CAR and Region 11; three each in Region 1, 2, 3, 8, and Caraga; and two in Region 9.

Meanwhile, life-skills training was provided for both children and the BPA staff in CAR, the NCR, 4B, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, and Caraga.

“Based on the reports submitted, there was a significant disparity noted in the number of training sessions provided to BPA staff compared to the like-skills training opportunities extended to residents or CICL,” the audit team said.

Auditors tagged the inability of project officials to assess the training needs of the staff and residents.

They recommended that the JJWC review resource allocation strategies to ensure a more equitable distribution between BPA staff and residents.

The JJWC disputed the view of the audit team about the disparity in the distribution of resources, clarifying that it conducted a series of consultations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao and from there allocated funds based on the submitted list of project proposals.

While acknowledging that only a few BPAs held life-skills training for their residents, the JJWC said it provided livelihood training to majority of the BPAs.

The audit team reminded the JJWC that one of its goals is to ensure that children in conflict with the law are rehabilitated and re-integrated with their families and communities.

“One of the means to accomplish this goal is through education, which includes the conduct or provision of training to both residents and staff of BPAs. In this connection, the audit team stands by its audit findings that there was an inequitable distribution of educational resources evidenced by zero or non-conduct of training to various BPAs …depriving the residents to adequate access and opportunity,” the auditors added.

Author

- Advertisement -

Share post: