JEDDAH — The Ministry of Social Affairs is scheduled to issue next week licenses for Saudi women to operate nurseries, Al-Watan newspaper reported. An official source said the ministries of social affairs, education, interior, labor, and municipal and rural affairs worked together to develop a set of rules governing the operation of these nurseries, which will be known as Children Hospitability Centers. The source said the Social Affairs Ministry has already made arrangements for the launch of the project, which will provide care for children while their parents are at work. The project aims to put an end to unlicensed nurseries that are seen unsuitable for providing such care. The conditions for granting a license are that applicants should have experience in education and childcare or a certificate in preschool education and have taken training courses in the field. The nurseries can receive children aged up to 10. The ministry has not fixed a cap for nursery fees and has instead left it to nurseries to decide based on market forces. The conditions also stipulate that licenses will only be granted to Saudi women and the nursery should be fully staffed by Saudi women with kindergarten experience. — SG
