Working in the Public Sector

My work is seemingly slowly picking up (I hope.) We had the first departmental meeting on Friday last week. I am now in a proper office. I was able to review the gender and education file that the deceased person had. In the departmental meeting, my supervisor, the deputy director explained to me and a new education officer (she is sharing the office with me) the protocols and procedures in the Ministry. For example, for me to organize a meeting, first, I have to write something called “loose minute” to my supervisor. And then, my supervisor has to write to the Secretary for Education (higher up in the management) about my intention of holding this meeting. Approval will come down in a same manner. Then, I will write an official invitation letter to the participants of the meeting followed by the approval of the Secretary for Education. If I want to provide refreshment at the meeting, I need to make a list of items, such as ten packets of biscuits, tea, soft drinks etc. I will then proceed to ask the departmental secretary to go get quotes for these items from three different stores. She will come back with the lists, and then we will finalize what we buy from each store, cheapest it means. I then give money to her and she can go buy them. What a long process! But I guess that is bureaucracy. I am not used to working for a big organization or the public sector, so sure it is different.