Early child education has proven to be a life lasting foundation a parent can give to any child which is fundamental to nation building in Cameroon. As such, establishing a day care centre in Cameroon has become a double necessity of providing parents with the opportunity to engage their jobs without any incumbrance on the one hand, and providing basic education to babies which help boost their learning ability as they get to the nursery level on the other hand.
Nevertheless, as vital as this investment is, the steps to register a private day care centre in Cameroon entails compliance with legal, regulatory and operational requirements.
Regulatory Landscape of Day Care Centres in Cameroon
The process to register a private day care centre in Cameroon is engaged under the Ministry of Basic education.
Any private investment in the sector of nursery and primary school education in Cameroon must be done in compliance with Decree No. 2017/0039 of 19 January 2017 fixing the modalities to open, organise and the functioning of day care centres in Cameroon.
CONDITIONS TO OPEN A PRIVATE DAY CARE CENTRE IN CAMEROON
Private day care centres are opened by order of the Minister for Family Promotion. The order must include the following information:
– Surname(s), first name(s) of the promoter, or name for legal entities;
– Address;
– Location of the crèche or day-care centre;
– Opening and closing days and times.
A copy of the aforementioned order is posted on the institution’s site and another is sent to the administrative authority with territorial jurisdiction.
The day care centre must be located in a place that offers every guarantee of safety, health and development of the children.
STEPS TO SET UP A PRIVATE DAY CARE CENTRE IN CAMEROON
The registration process of a day care centre in Cameroon is engaged through six steps to with;
- Step 1: Choose a Business Structure
- Step 2: Choose a Location
- Step 3: Setup an Organizational Structure
- Step 4: Acquire or Lease a Land for the Project
- Step 5: Compile the necessary documents
- Step 6: Apply for the Authorization to Operate
These steps will be examined below as follows
Step 1: Choose a Business Structure
What is the best legal structure to set up a private day care centre in Cameroon?
a. Register the school as a business: This could be done through the formation of a limited liability company or a partnership in conformity with the relevant laws of OHADA. However, the promoters or founders will have more protection under the umbrella of a limited liability company as opposed to a partnership.
b. Register the school as an NGO: The law has made allusion to any corporate body as a recognized entity to carry out private day care activities in Cameroon. A corporate body is a group of people or an organization that acts as a single entity with legal rights and responsibilities. In this regard, a Non-Governmental Organization duly registered in Cameroon can engage in the activity of providing day care services in compliance with the law.
Step 2: Choose a Location
How important is the location map to register a private day care centre in Cameroon?
The location of a private day care centre in Cameroon is fundamental for its authorization to operate. The day care centre must be located in a place that offers every guarantee of safety, health and development of the children.
Step 3: Setup an Organizational Structure (Hire Qualified Personnel)
a. Proprietor: Proprietor(s) of day care centres in Cameroon must have the legal capacity to register the centre according to Cameroon law.
b. Personnel Quality: Administrative, Technical and Finance personnel must have the necessary qualification to assume the responsibility of their office.
Step 4: Acquire or Lease a Land/Building
The acquisition or renting of a building in which the day care centre project will be engaged is very vital for the success of the venture.
Step 5: Compile the Necessary Documents
Documents Required for the Approval
The documents to be submitted for approval by the Ministry of family promotion of Cameroon will depend on the legal structure put in place. They are as follows;
a. Business Structure documents
The documents to be submitted if the legal entity is a business structure like a limited liability company is as follows;
- Incorporation Documents of the Company
- Personal documents of the company founders alongside their non-crime certificate
- If the founder(s) assume administrative and pedagogic responsibility, they must present the qualifying documents/certificate/authorization to prove they are education professionals.
- The location plan of the school
- The architectural plan of the school
- The list of qualified staff
- Health and Safety Policy
- The finance documents etc.
b. Non-Governmental Organization
The documents to be submitted if the legal entity is an NGO is as follows;
- A copy of the constitution of the NGO
- A List of the executive bureau of the NGO
- The qualifying certificate, documents or authorization of the founders/members of the executive bureau of the NGO who assume administrative and pedagogic responsibilities
- The location plan of the school
- The architectural plan of the school
- The list of qualified staff/personnel
- The Health and Safety Policy
- The Finance Documents etc.
Step 6: Apply for the Authorization to Operate
The application file to open a private day care centre in Cameroon shall comprise of the following documents;
- A stamped request specifying in particular:
- The surname(s) and first name(s) of the applicant, or the name of the legal entity;
- The location of the nursery or day care centre;
- A detailed description of the building in which the crèche or day-care centre is to be located;
- A tax certificate and a tax status statement;
- A resolution/deliberation of the governing body, authorizing the creation of the crèche or day nursery, in the case of legal entities;
- An extract from the criminal record (bulletin n03) less than three (03) months old. months, of the promoter and the main people in charge of the crèche or day nursery;
- An individual file for each person in charge of the crèche or day care centre;
- A certified copy of the national identity card of the promoter and of the people in charge of the crèche or day-care centre; etc.
Compliance Standards for the registration of a day care centre in Cameroon
- Technical Compliance Standards
- Academic Compliance Standards
- Financial Compliance Standards
- Tax Compliance Standards
Importance of Accreditation for a day care centre/nursery in Cameroon
Assures quality
Accreditation is a voluntary process that evaluates schools against nationally accepted standards to ensure they are providing a quality education.
Helps students
Accreditation can help students by:
- Ensuring they receive a quality education
- Making them eligible for financial aid
- Helping them transfer credits to other accredited schools
Helps parents
Accreditation can help parents make informed decisions about their children’s education.
Helps schools
Accreditation can help schools by:
- Fostering accountability to the public
- Encouraging continuous improvement
- Helping them improve their performance
- Providing access to certified information about their facilities and infrastructure
- Forster Partnerships
- Attracts Funding
Helps the profession
Accreditation can help the profession by:
- Fostering collegial relations among educators
- Ensuring that all accredited programs meet the same standards
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