Shura Council backs BD1,000 fine and jail time for rogue nurseries

TDT | Manama

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Rogue nurseries face the full wrath of the law — with fines of up to BD1,000 and prison time — under a new amendment approved yesterday by the Shura Council.

The move is aimed at fixing vague nursery regulations that have left owners unsure of what might land them in court, despite following the rules.

Members agreed to amend Bahrain’s Child Law to close a legal gap that risks punishing nursery operators without clearly defining their offence — something that directly conflicts with Bahrain’s constitution, which states no one can be penalised unless the law spells out the violation.

The proposed changes would rewrite Article 20 of the 2012 Child Law to clearly state which activities require official permission.

While opening a nursery would still need a full licence, day-to-day operation, relocation, or structural changes would now require prior approval from the Ministry of Education.

At present, Article 63 imposes penalties without properly linking them to specific breaches, meaning even compliant nursery owners could end up facing legal action.

Legal gap

Committee rapporteur Ejlal Bubshait said: “This amendment ensures the law clearly defines what is prohibited, and when penalties may apply. It closes a legal gap that puts nursery operators at risk.”

In its first response to the proposal, the Ministry of Education welcomed the amendment and acknowledged a gap in the current wording.

It confirmed that only the initial establishment of a nursery requires a full licence, while activities such as operation, relocation, or structural modification fall under the existing licence.