(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Ministry of Social Affairs issued warning letters to 199 schools
Dubai — The Ministry of Social Affairs scrapped the licences of 49 kindergarten schools in 2014 for failing to abide by the rules and regulations.
According to a senior official some of these nurseries failed to renew their licences in time while others were located in geographical areas not appropriate for such schools or were polluted or repeated the violations for which they were served warning notices earlier.
Moza Salem Al Shoomi (left) Director of the Child Department said the ministry is closely monitoring nursery schools on a regular basis to protect children from all risks and provide a proper and healthy educational environment.
As many as 510 nursery schools had been licensed by the ministry across the country up to 2014. These included 166 in Abu Dhabi 183 in Dubai 99 in Sharjah 17 in Ajman five in Umm Al Quwain 28 in Ras Al Khaimah and 12 in Fujairah she said.
The ministry issued warning letters to 199 nursery schools last year. “The ministry’s inspectors paid 345 visits to nursery schools last year.” Al Shoomi said 35 nursery schools in Abu Dhabi Dubai Ajman Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah were issued warning letters for causing harm to children while 17 others were warned for enrolling children above the legal age.
“As many as 29 nursery schools were given notices for not having enough toys or having improper toys whereas 18 others were warned for failing to pay due attention to the clinic rooms.”
The other nursery schools were issued warning letters for lacking enough beds not classifying children according to their ages recruiting men staff and having no medical records she stated.
“Of the 28 warning letters issued this year so far 14 were issued to nursery schools in Dubai six in Abu Dhabi four in Sharjah three in Al Ain and one in Ras Al Khaimah.” Al Shoomi noted that the stringent inspection strategy adopted by the ministry is aimed to curb violations and ensure children’s protection.
“It is not an easy job to open a nursery school; the ministry is fully dedicated to provide a safe and proper environment for children as per the latest international standards” she underscored.
Indicating that the errant schools have been given a grace period to amend their positions Al Shoomi said the nursery schools found flouting rules are given first warning then a second warning and finally the closure notice.
“The ministry imposes penalties for delay in renewing the nursery licence — a fine of Dh2000 for the first time Dh5000 for repeating it and closure if it continues the violation again.” Al Shoomi said the ministry does not want to hamper nurseries’ work. “Reducing the number of warning letters is a strategic goal. We mainly want to protect children.”
The violations recorded at the nursery schools across the country are: absence of a manager unapproved fee hiked improper maintenance improper advertisements and a lack of toys playgrounds beds empty spaces clinics medical records employees supervisors and sunshades.
“Also some nurseries failed to distribute the children as per their age while others let men enter the kindergarten do not show enough cooperation in terms of statistics have no labour cards let alone uncleanliness use the nursery building for unlicensed activities lack punctuality and run the school without a licence.”
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