– 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Recently, several people have advocated increased staffing in the kindergartens, and several of the parties that have withdrawn from the settlement highlight this point.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 are the key elements of the new agreement on managing and financing the nursery sector discussed by Elise Waagen?
**Interview with Elise Waagen, Labor Party Spokesperson for the Nursery Sector**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Ms. Waagen. There’s been significant discussion recently regarding the new agreement on managing and financing the nursery sector. Can you elaborate on the importance of this agreement?
**Elise Waagen:** Thank you for having me. This agreement is crucial for stabilizing the nursery sector, which is a foundational welfare service in Norway. Our aim is to create predictability and a sense of calm within kindergartens. This will ensure that our children receive high-quality care and education, which contributes directly to their development and well-being.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that securing patient focus was part of this settlement. How does that influence the negotiations?
**Elise Waagen:** Patient focus is vital because it helps us ensure that children’s needs are prioritized in the decision-making process. By bringing this focus into our discussions, we aim to build a majority that firmly supports the long-term stability of our kindergartens.
**Interviewer:** Marit Knutsdatter Strand from the Center Party emphasized the need for a settlement that can stand the test of time. How do you see this agreement achieving that?
**Elise Waagen:** Our goal is to draft a comprehensive framework that balances quality with accessibility. We understand that while the costs of nursery services must be manageable for families, we also need to implement measures that enhance educational quality. By doing so, we can ensure that kindergartens remain a reliable resource for communities across Norway.
**Interviewer:** Several parties, including MDG, have expressed concerns about the proposed measures, particularly regarding staffing levels and recruitment. What is your response to these criticisms?
**Elise Waagen:** It’s important to acknowledge these concerns. The agreement stipulates clear requirements for staffing, ensuring that there are sufficient personnel to provide a satisfactory educational environment at all times, even during staff absences. We’re committed to clarifying specific guidelines on when substitutes are required and ensuring that staffing levels meet educational needs.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, the issue of pension schemes for nursery staff has been included in the negotiations. Why is this a critical aspect of the settlement?
**Elise Waagen:** Equal rights for all employees, whether they work in public or private kindergartens, is vital for a fair system. Including pension schemes in our discussions not only protects current staff but also enhances the attractiveness of working in the nursery sector, which is essential for recruitment and retention of quality educators.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Ms. Waagen, for your insights into this important topic.
**Elise Waagen:** Thank you for having me. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss the future of our nurseries.
