– 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 steps to improve 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Recently, several people have advocated increased staffing in the kindergartens, and several of the parties that have withdrawn from the settlement highlight this point.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 secured 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 impacts do you foresee from the new kindergarten settlement on the quality of education and care in Norway’s early childhood institutions?
**Interview with Marit Knutsdatter Strand, Education Policy Spokesperson for the Center Party**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Marit. There has been quite a debate surrounding the new kindergarten settlement in Norway. Can you share why the Center Party believes this settlement is a step in the right direction?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** Thank you for having me. The Center Party believes this settlement is crucial for creating sustainability in our nursery sector. After years of discussions, it was vital for us to produce a framework that allows for both predictability and quality in kindergartens across Norway. We have successfully reduced nursery prices, and now we are committed to enhancing the quality of care and education in these vital institutions.
**Interviewer:** Some parties, like the MDG, have opted out of the negotiations, citing concerns about inadequate measures for staffing and recruitment. What is your response to those criticisms?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** While we understand their concerns, we must prioritize a broad agreement that can stand the test of time. The settlement ensures that we set legal requirements for staffing that guarantee sufficient educational activities. We believe this foundation will help address the staffing issues over time, rather than proposing immediate but unsustainable fixes.
**Interviewer:** Staffing has been a hot topic. What specific measures are included to improve staffing levels and ensure adequate support in kindergartens?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** The parties in our settlement have emphasized that appropriate staffing must be maintained throughout the day, even during staff illnesses or absences. This means we are legally mandating that substitutes must be available when needed, which will help maintain continuity in children’s education and care. Furthermore, we are advocating for clearer guidelines from the government on what constitutes sufficient staffing.
**Interviewer:** The SV has criticized the settlement for not addressing existing staffing crises. How do you respond to their concern that the settlement falls short?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** We respect the viewpoints of all parties, but we firmly believe that this settlement provides a structured approach that focuses on long-term improvements rather than short-term solutions. Addressing staffing isn’t just about increasing numbers; it’s about creating an environment where staff can thrive, which is what this agreement seeks to accomplish.
**Interviewer:** what are the next steps for the Center Party regarding this settlement?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** Our next steps involve working closely with the government to implement this settlement effectively. We are committed to ensuring that the measures we have discussed translate into real support for both children and staff in kindergartens throughout Norway. We hope to see positive changes that will benefit our future generations.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Marit. It will be interesting to see how this develops in the coming months.
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** Thank you for having me, and I look forward to the discussions ahead!