– We agree on a joint agreement on how to manage and finance the nursery sector. It is important to create predictability and calm in the kindergartens, which are a basic and important welfare offer, says the Labor Party’s Elise Waagen to NTB.
Patient focus is also involved in the settlement, where the government therefore goes to the right to secure a majority.
– For the Center Party, a settlement that stands up over time is more important than the fads of the wing parties. Now we ensure good kindergartens close to people throughout Norway. We have greatly reduced the nursery price, now we are taking new measures for quality, says Marit Knutsdatter Strand, education policy spokesperson for the Center Party, to NTB.
Desired broad settlement
The parties in the Storting have been negotiating since before the summer about the new law for how the private kindergartens are to be managed and financed. The goal was to achieve a new, broad kindergarten settlement – for the first time since 2003.
Along the way, both Frp, SV and Rødt have broken off the negotiations. MDG also ultimately chose to stay out.
– MDG has chosen not to become part of the settlement because the decisions are not good enough to ensure a good enough nursery for children and employees in the years to come. The fact that there are no concrete measures that will strengthen staffing, create lower sickness absence and ensure good recruitment is worrying, says MDG’s Une Bastholm.
Recently, several people have advocated increased staffing in the kindergartens, and several of the parties that have withdrawn from the settlement highlight this point.
Will clarify the staffing rules
The six parties that agree emphasize that it is required by law to have such good staffing in the kindergartens that the staff can run a satisfactory educational activity.
– This requirement applies throughout the opening hours, also in the event of illness and other absences. The parties believe that it must be emphasized that substitutes must be obtained if the staffing situation dictates this, it is further stated.
They also ask the government to follow up and clarify how the staffing regulations are to be understood, what constitutes appropriate staffing. It must also be clarified when it is necessary to bring in substitutes and, if necessary, cut the opening hours.
The parties in the settlement also agree that pension schemes must be part of the bill that is presented to the Storting.
The aim is that there should be equal rights for employees in private and public kindergartens.
SV: – Fails the left side
SV’s education policy spokesperson, Grete Wold, says that the settlement does not solve any of the problems in the kindergartens.
– We have a staffing crisis out there. This settlement does not consider solving it at all. We must ensure that the money allocated to the kindergartens goes to our children. Neither does this settlement. And we must make sure that the commercial players cannot shut down overnight. That doesn’t solve this settlement either, she says to NTB.
She is disappointed that the government parties go to the bourgeois parties to get a majority.
– It shows that they are once again failing the left in politics. They could have reached a settlement with us that would have ensured a kindergarten law that would have done something about the challenges in the sector, she says.
– “Honk and drive and go” for the commercial ones
Rødt’s Hege Bae Nyholt says that they tried to be constructive in the negotiations, but that the majority chose not to listen to several of their proposals.
– This is a kind of “honk and drive and go” for the commercial nurseries, she says.
– I am disappointed. Here, the governing parties have chosen the right over their own politics. They have entered into a settlement that is so broad that it does not take into account the crises in the nursery sector, she tells NTB.
PBL: Positive clarifications
Director Jørn-Tommy Schjelderup of the National Association of Private Kindergartens (PBL), which organizes several of the commercial kindergartens, says that there will be several “positive and very important clarifications in the settlement”.
– After a long period of much polarized debate, and also far-reaching proposals that would have been very dramatic for private kindergartens, it is good that the parties have managed to agree on a document that mentions many of the central themes, he says.
He praises both the governing parties and the opposition for having worked constructively on the issue over time.
– And with good intentions about balanced and sustainable solutions, he says.
#Agreement #kindergarten #law #demand #staffing
What key outcomes were achieved in the recent nursery sector settlement in Norway regarding staffing and funding management?
**Interviewer:** Good day, everyone. Today, we’re diving into the recent developments regarding the nursery sector settlements in Norway. I’m joined by Marit Knutsdatter Strand, the education policy spokesperson for the Center Party. Marit, thank you for being here.
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** Thank you for having me.
**Interviewer:** Let’s start with the negotiations that have taken place over the past few months. Can you give us a brief overview of what was achieved in the settlement regarding management and financing of kindergartens?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** Certainly. We’ve reached a joint agreement focused on creating predictability and calm within kindergartens, which are crucial to our welfare system. This settlement allows us to ensure good quality kindergartens accessible to all families across Norway. We’ve significantly reduced nursery fees, and now we are implementing further measures to enhance quality in our early childhood education system.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like substantial progress, but not all parties have agreed with the outcomes. The MDG and SV have expressed concerns about the adequacy of the measures. How do you respond to their criticisms, particularly regarding staffing levels and the overall effectiveness of the settlement?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** While I understand the concerns raised, our priority has been to establish a stable framework that can stand the test of time, rather than chasing short-term solutions. Staffing is indeed a critical issue, and we are committed to legally required staffing levels that ensure satisfactory educational activities. The requirements we’re discussing apply throughout operational hours, even during absences. More detailed guidelines will be issued to clarify these expectations further.
**Interviewer:** Some parties have suggested that the settlement falls short when it comes to addressing the staffing crisis. How do you plan to address these ongoing staffing challenges?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** The settlement emphasizes the necessity of having sufficient staff at all times and mandates the hiring of substitutes when needed. We are actively looking into how we can further support staffing to reduce absenteeism and ensure recruitment is prioritized. We believe that the measures we’re putting in place will evolve as we continue our discussions and assessments.
**Interviewer:** Elise Waagen from the Labor Party mentioned the importance of creating a calm and predictable environment in kindergartens. What specific steps will the settlement ensure this calmness?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** The overarching goal is to make sure that all kindergartens across Norway maintain a consistent standard and that parents can trust that their children are in safe, well-managed environments. By standardizing funding and staffing requirements, we are providing the necessary framework that educators need to focus on delivering high-quality education, rather than being subject to fluctuating policies.
**Interviewer:** what is the next step for the parties involved in this settlement?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** The next step is to present the finalized agreement to the Storting and engage in discussions on further clarifications, particularly regarding the staffing regulations and pension schemes for workers in both public and private kindergartens. The objective is to ensure equal rights for all employees and make certain our kindergartens can thrive moving forward.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Marit, for sharing your insights on this important topic concerning early childhood education. It’s essential for the future of our children and our society.
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** Thank you for having me.
