MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UNICEF and Mother Pattern College of Health Sciences.

The arrangement aims to develop the Child Protection curriculum at the Mother College of Health Sciences.

Under the MoU, the ministry will fund the cost of curriculum development and facilitate a nationwide validation workshop with relevant stakeholders to review and endorse the curriculum.

As part of the agreement, the College will develop a competency-based modular curriculum covering child protection system strengthening, prevention and response to violence against children and child justice system, and care for child survivors of sexual violence, among others.

The MoU will also see the training of sixty social workers from line ministries across the country for the period of six months.

As part of the agreement, UNICEF will fund the cost of the sixty selected practitioners and provide financial support to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for the development of the curriculum.

Meanwhile, Gender Minister Gbeme Horrace Kollie has described the signing of the agreement as a significant step in protecting the children of Liberia.

According to Minister Horrace Kollie, the curriculum and its implementation will beef up the strength of the ministry in enlightening social workers of their roles and responsibilities in working and understanding issues confronting children.

She noted that the training of social workers will provide opportunities and improve their skills.

The gender ministry boss lauded UNICEF and Mother Pattern College of Health Sciences for their farsightedness in signing the MoU.

She spoke during the signing ceremony on Tuesday in Congo Town.