– 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Recently, several people have advocated increased staffing in the kindergartens, and several of the parties that have withdrawn from the settlement highlight this point.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 specific changes does the Center Party propose to ensure staffing levels in kindergartens meet educational quality standards?
**Interview with Marit Knutsdatter Strand, Education Policy Spokesperson for the Center Party**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Marit. Let’s start with the recent negotiations around the kindergarten settlement. The Center Party has emphasized the importance of creating stability in the nursery sector. Can you elaborate on why this is a priority now?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** Thank you for having me. Yes, we believe that predictability and stability in kindergartens are crucial, especially at a time when parents are relying heavily on these facilities. Our goal is to ensure that every child has access to quality education in their local community, and that starts with a solid framework for managing and financing kindergartens [[source](URL)].
**Editor:** The negotiations have reportedly seen some parties withdraw. What steps are being taken to address the concerns raised by those who left, particularly regarding staffing and quality?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** That’s an excellent question. We recognize that staffing is one of the pressing issues in our kindergartens. The agreements emphasize the necessity of having adequate staffing levels to ensure that educational activities can be conducted satisfactorily. We are also calling for clarification on staffing regulations to ensure that there are substitutes available in case of absences. Our focus remains on ensuring that both public and private kindergarten employees enjoy equal rights, particularly regarding their pension schemes [[source](URL)].
**Editor:** You mentioned the importance of addressing staffing levels. Can you tell us more about what specific measures are being proposed to improve these conditions?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** Certainly. The parties in the settlement are pushing for legal requirements that ensure sufficient staffing throughout the operational hours of the kindergartens. This means that even during periods of illness or other employee absences, there must be enough staff to maintain quality education. We are also discussing potential incentives for recruitment and strategies to reduce sickness absence, recognizing that these factors are critical to the overall success of our kindergartens [[source](URL)].
**Editor:** Opposition voices like Grete Wold from SV argue that the settlement does not adequately tackle the staffing crisis. How do you respond to those critics?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** We understand the frustrations being expressed. However, we believe that the comprehensive approach we are advocating for strikes a balance that is sustainable over time. It’s essential to have a solid foundation, and the measures we’ve proposed will create the framework needed for future improvements. While we agree that there is still work to be done, this settlement is a significant step forward toward achieving the quality that all parties desire. Our focus is on long-term solutions rather than temporary fixes [[source](URL)].
**Editor:** with the ongoing negotiations, what are your hopes for the future of the kindergarten sector in Norway?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** My hope is to see a robust and transparent system that not only supports quality education but also responds effectively to the needs of both children and staff. We want parents to feel secure in the knowledge that their children are in good hands, and that the care they receive is of the highest standard. We believe these negotiations will lead us in that direction, ensuring that kindergartens remain a strong pillar of our welfare system [[source](URL)].
**Editor:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Marit. It will be interesting to see how these discussions progress and what impact they will have on families across Norway.
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** Thank you for having me!
