Violations by nurseries increase

Violations by nurseries in the UAE has increased in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2009.
 
Seventy-five warning letters were issued to 65 nursery schools in the first six months of the year, compared to 15 in the same period in 2009, 'Khaleej Times' quoted Moza Salem Al Shoomi, Director of Child Department at the Ministry of Social Affairs, as saying.

The violations have come to light due to the stringent inspection drive by the Ministry, Al Shoomi said.

All the 236 private nurseries in the UAE, along with eight government nurseries, will go through inspections upon annual renewal of licences.

Al Shoomi said 31 warning letters were issued to nurseries failing to provide a nurse, which topped the list of violations. While 15 nurseries illegally accepted children above the legal age of four years.

"Offering kindergarten education, employing men, accepting special needs children, recruiting employees without labour cards, changing premises, and failing to provide a special room for nurses were among other violations spotted.”

Errant nurseries have been given time until September to amend thier procedures.

However, the ministry's inspection strategy has decreased the number of complaints, especially about fee refund, frequent change of supervisors, etc. "Only eight complaints were received this year as compared to 32 last year,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour also imposes fines for delay of nursery licence renewal, the report said.
 

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