DOHA: More affordable nurseries (crèches) have begun opening across the city to cash in on the increasing demand from low and middle income families.
The new daycare facilities have become a boon for many parents, enabling them to find a seat for their kids not far away from their localities. However, some parents have raised concern over the quality of their services. Most operators of the crèches say that they have enough seats to offer for new candidates.
Demand for affordable daycare facilities have gone up after more women have joined the job market, earning relatively low salaries to support their spouses in meeting the rising cost of living.
The registration charges differ from one crèche to another ranging from QR500 to QR1,000, The Peninsula has learnt. The monthly fee at several newly opened middle range crèches range from QR1,000 to QR1,500. The fees at most high-end nurseries are not less than QR2,500 per month. Some nurseries charge extra for additional hours. Most high-end nurseries are located in Doha downtown and some posh areas like Dafna and West Bay. Several middle range daycare facilities have opened in the city’s outskirts like Al Murra, Al Aziziya and Muaither.
“We have seats vacant. Registration started early this month,” manager of a daycare facility in Al Aziziya near Wathnan Mall said.
“We charge QR500 for registration and QR5,400 for the first term extending from this month to year-end,” she added. A similar fee will be charged for the second term stretching from January 1 to May 1, 2017.
If the parents cannot afford to pay the charges in two instalments then they have to pay QR1,800 per month as per the policy of the school. Onetime lump some payment will save pretty good money for parents because in this case they will have to pay only QR1,350 per month. The working hours of the crèche is between 7am to 3pm, said the manager.
Another daycare facility run by an Indian management at Bin Mahmoud area has opened its doors to children aged up to four years.
“We charge as per the age of the children; QR1,000 per month for a child of one year and above and QR1,200 for children aged two months to one year,” said its manager . “We also charge QR500 as onetime registration fee and QR400 for student kit. We work between 8am to 12 (noon) from Sunday to Thursday. We provide additional hours with extra charges”, she added.
“I pay about 50% of my salary as fees for my child going to a nursery,” lamented an assistant teacher working with a private international school.
“This is not fair. The schools should provide daycare facilities for children of their women staff either free or at affordable charges,” she added.
“Working mothers would feel more comfortable when their small children stay close to them,” said another teacher of a school, also stressing the need for nurseries at workplaces.
“I have put my child in a nursery in Dafna and pay QR2,500 per month,” said Umm Abdullah, a businesswoman supplying toys.
“It is a little bit expensive but to tell the truth their services are worth it,” she added.
Expensive nurseries follow international curriculum, mostly British or American. They hire qualified teachers and caretakers from abroad, paying high salaries.
When the child enters third year, they start teaching colours, numbers, phonic, sound and shape. Children also learn music and dance. Such nurseries have bigger space for children to play different types of games.
The most important thing is hygiene that only professional staff could maintain. They are trained on how to handle toddlers and small children properly.
“I had some bitter experience with a cheaper daycare facility my elder son used to go. Sorry to say that I often found his diaper full, unchanged. So I opted for the expensive one for my younger child,” said the businesswoman.
