Cabinet confirms nurseries to remain under Ministry of Social Affairs

The Cabinet has resolved the long-standing issue regarding the licensing and supervision of private nurseries in Kuwait, confirming that the Ministry of Social Affairs will retain sole authority over their regulation.

The Cabinet affirmed that nursery licensing and oversight responsibilities will remain with the Ministry of Social Affairs, in accordance with Law No. (22) of 2014, which clearly states in Article 2 that private nurseries may only be established with a license from the ministry.

Informed sources told Al-Rai that Minister of Education, Engineer Jalal Al-Tabtabaei, has been tasked with coordinating with the concerned authorities to correct any existing legal irregularities. This follows observations that some private schools had begun operating pre-kindergarten classes without proper approvals—a violation of current regulations.

The Cabinet’s decision came after reviewing the recommendations of the Education, Health, and Youth Committee and the Ministry of Education’s detailed assessment. The ministry emphasized that nurseries serve children under four years old—a stage that requires social and care-oriented services, differing from the structured educational curriculum overseen by the Ministry of Education.

This clarification aims to eliminate the administrative overlap between ministries and ensure nurseries are managed within the appropriate legal framework.

The issue surfaced months ago when the Ministry of Education discovered that several private schools had established nursery-level classes without approval. Immediate action followed, including official warnings and demands to rectify the situation within three working days.

Subsequently, coordination meetings between the Ministries of Education and Social Affairs led to a joint understanding to maintain jurisdiction under the Ministry of Social Affairs, particularly for nurseries catering to children with special needs.

The matter was referred to the Council of Ministers for thorough legal and technical review. The resulting recommendation supported the Ministry of Social Affairs’ continued oversight, as laid out in Articles 9 and 10 of Law No. (22) of 2014. These articles authorize the ministry to temporarily suspend or permanently revoke nursery licenses in cases of legal violations or if the public interest requires it.

To implement the Cabinet’s decision, a joint coordination meeting was held last Thursday. It resulted in several field measures, including providing the Ministry of Education with a database of all centers and schools housing children under four years old. This will allow the Ministry of Social Affairs to take necessary corrective and regulatory steps against unlicensed operations.

Moreover, joint inspection teams will be formed with representatives from the Ministries of Social Affairs, Education, and Health, as well as the Kuwait Municipality, Fire Force, and other relevant authorities. These teams will monitor and take legal action against non-compliant nurseries to ensure children’s safety and well-being.

The Cabinet’s decision reflects a unified governmental vision to regulate the early childhood sector based on legal and scientific principles. It also reinforces coordination between key ministries to prevent overlap and raise the quality of services offered to children.

Officials reiterated that the move upholds the rights of children in early childhood and ensures a structured, legally compliant environment for their development.