Jordan- Ministry shuts down another PWD centre 

(MENAFN - Jordan Times) The outcome of the second phase of a probe into abuse of children with disabilities at care homes that sparked public outcry this month led to shutting down one more facility and transferring beneficiaries to a new, safer building, among other procedures.

Minister of Social Development Wajih Azaizeh on Wednesday announced the closure of the Amman-based Al Madar International Centre for Special Education, citing unsuitable facilities, lack of well-designed rehabilitation programmes and instability of its staff, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Last Thursday, a similar decision was taken against Ibn Khaldoun Centre for Special Education, for "failure to meet the ministry's standards and requirements".

Azaizeh added Wednesday that legal action was taken against several supervisors at different centres for suspicion of physically abusing disabled children.

In a third decision, children receiving care at a government centre in Jerash were moved to another safer building, pending completion of maintenance at the original building.

For facilities that are closed down, their beneficiaries will be moved to other centres, the minister said.

Children who were diagnosed as not suffering from disabilities are also to be removed to other institutions.

The decisions were taken as part of a probe and an assessment process ordered by His Majesty King Abdullah after the BBC aired a documentary featuring children being abused in some special education centres and issued directives to the government to investigate all special and public homes providing services to people with disabilities and hold accountable every person involved in violations.

His Majesty paid surprise visits to some of these centres earlier last week and issued a letter to Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh ordering the probe.