UAE: The UAE Ministry of Social Affairs, in a bid to boost up nursery services, launched quality standards guide for nursery schools in the country on Thursday.
The modernly advanced benchmarks unveiled in the 4th Nursery Forum, are derived from the latest local and international standards for the benefit of the children here.
Abdullah Rashid Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs, said the set directory would guarantee a meticulous childcare, proper upbringing and deep patriotism and loyalty to the country. “They shall also impart positive social values to our children, involve them in national occasions and protect their rights, safety, and health.”
He said all nursery schools here would be evaluated in view of the new standards and how adherent they would be to them.
“Copies of the quality criteria are now available for all nursery officials and employees. Parents can also have access to the new guide to be able to know about the type and quality of the nursery services being provided to their children.”
Nursery schools in the UAE have seen a significant development over the last years in terms of the number of premises and children, and the services being provided. “A similar growth has also been noticed in the number of nurseries at the ministries and government departments, which has comforted working mothers and secured their job safety and stability,” he said.
Al Suwaidi said the ministry had prepared a new bill for nurseries in the UAE in line with the latest and best laws of nurseries worldwide. “This will be a quantum leap in the services we provide for our children. We want to give quality services at an affordable cost to all the families in the UAE,” he said, adding that the values and traditions imparted to children would stick to them along their lives.
A documentary was also shown on the ministry’s achievements for childhood in the past three years. Maryam Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs, then launched the Guide to Quality Service Standards.
Moza Al Shoomi, Director of Child Department, gave a presentation on the five-section guide. The new standards spanned administrative and financial organization, community responsibility, technical organization and development, recipients’ rights, security, and safety. “With over 19,000 children now enrolled in 276 UAE nurseries –248 private and 28 government– across the country, the new guide has become a must,” Shoomi told Khaleej Times.
All nurseries in the UAE have been given a grace period till January 2012 to amend their positions and services in line with the new quality standards. A thorough evaluation is to be implemented thereafter. “Copies of the directory have been distributed to the 700 representatives of the nurseries today. A soft copy will also be available online at both the ministry and nursery websites,” she said.
Indicating that further copies would be distributed to parents to take part in nurseries’ evaluation process, Shoomi said a parent council for nurseries would be launched soon. “Nurseries are told to nominate parents for membership in the council, and send their CVs to the ministry,” she said, adding that the number of members would differ from one emirate to another depending on the number of nurseries there.
© Khaleej Times
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