The Ministry of Education and Higher Education organized a forum for all private nurseries in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Public Health, and the Ministry of Labor. The event took place over two days, on September 18 and 19, 2024, at the ministry's permanent headquarters in Al-Qatifiya.

The first day included a meeting with all licensed nursery owners and directors, where they were informed about the details of the recent ministerial decisions and the updates regarding supervision and licensing for the year. The meeting also presented a response plan to address the challenges faced by investors in the nursery sector. Additionally, the forum featured the Ministry of Interior's Security Systems Department, which addressed various challenges encountered by license holders, including the organization of camera usage and security monitoring devices.

The Environmental Health Department at the Ministry of Municipality and the Labor Inspection and Work Licensing Departments at the Ministry of Labor were also invited to provide license holders with the opportunity to discuss the various challenges related to other governmental departments. The department took this step as part of its ongoing efforts to support investors.

The meeting witnessed significant interaction between the nursery managers and representatives from the Ministry of Interior, who explained the necessity of modern surveillance cameras and their strategic placement within the facilities to ensure the protection of children.

Lieutenant Colonel Ali Abdullah Al-Suwaidi, Director of the Security Systems Department, and Captain Abdullah Mohammed Al-Khiyareen, Head of the Licensing Department, explained the security plan to protect children in nurseries. They stressed the need to develop monitoring methods and the requirements that must be met in nurseries' security systems.

Additionally, Ms. Mariam Al-Shamlan, Director of Health Care and Disease Control, stressed the importance of maintaining clean water tanks and ensuring cleanliness in all facilities used for children's activities. She also highlighted the necessity of using medical and safe cleaning products and disinfectants that pose no risk to children's health, recommending contracts only with approved manufacturers and companies.

On the second day, eight awareness workshops were conducted for all nurseries on achieving higher safety and security standards and handling violations. This initiative is part of the support and development program being prepared by the Nursery Department to enhance the quality of services provided to our children in nurseries.

Ms. Ghada Laram, Director of the Nursery Department at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, emphasized that this meeting is crucial. A plan has been established to overcome investors' challenges and encourage them to establish more nurseries. The number of children enrolled in private nurseries in Qatar has reached 4,340, including 1,844 Qatari children.

She added that the Ministry of Education and Higher Education's ongoing operational plan aims to attract numerous investment projects for establishing nurseries and daycare centers by designing advanced systems to encourage the private sector to invest in education. She noted that the new decisions define licensing fees, types of nurseries, the qualifications and experience required for their staff, and the conditions and regulations that must be met in nursery facilities.

This annual meeting takes place at the beginning of each academic year. It aims to exchange opinions, ideas, and suggestions that serve the interests of children in nurseries, providing them with an ideal environment for learning and acquiring essential skills for this age group.