Unlicensed nurseries ‘a threat to children’s safety’ — ministry

AMMAN — The Social Development Ministry Spokesperson Fawwaz Ratrout on Sunday warned residents against registering their children in home-based unlicensed nurseries.

He said the nurseries “threaten the safety” and “violate the rights of children” as they do not abide by the ministry’s rules and regulations and do not acknowledge the minimum limit required for providing protection to the children enrolled.

“The service providers and clients share the responsibility for registering children in those unlicensed nurseries,” he added.

There are 1,100 licensed nurseries in Jordan, he said, with 600 school-based nurseries, according to Ratrout.

“Alternatives are already there with better services, so why register your children in an unlicensed nursery and risk their safety?” Ratrout asked.

He added: “These nurseries are  a violation of children’s rights.”

The rules and regulations in Jordan allow four types of nurseries to be licensed: private-sector, public school-based, institutional, and organisational nurseries, he said.

Most of the illegal nurseries are found in rural and underprivileged neighbourhoods around the Kingdom, he said, with most of their advertisements posted on mosque doors and shopping stores.

Some parents register their children in unlicensed crèches due to the low prices they offer, Ratrout said, adding that the nurseries are illegal and that employees tend to treat children incorrectly since the nurseries do not abide by the rules set by the official departments.

He urged residents to report any unlicensed nursery to the ministry, explaining that one is always entitled to ask for the certificates and licence of the crèche to guarantee the nursery follows the system’s policies. 

He added that parents can also check if the nursery’s name is listed as a trade name, which guarantees that it is licensed and abiding by the national rules.

Amjad Samawi, a parent, said some parents might consider registering their children in unlicensed nurseries due to their relatively lower prices and the closer distance to their houses.

“Some friends of mine registered their child in an unlicensed crèche without knowing. They said they only did it because the crèche was near their house, which makes it easier for parents to drive their baby,” he told The Jordan Times.