– 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Recently, several people have advocated increased staffing in the kindergartens, and several of the parties that have withdrawn from the settlement highlight this point.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
– In light of criticism from parties like the Green Party regarding the sufficiency of the recent agreement, how does the Center Party justify its approach to financing and managing kindergartens to address quality and accessibility?
**Interview with Marit Knutsdatter Strand, Education Policy Spokesperson for the Center Party**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Marit. The recent negotiations on the management and financing of the nursery sector have generated a lot of discussion. Can you share your party’s perspective on the new agreement that has been reached?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** Absolutely! We believe this joint agreement is vital for creating predictability and calm in kindergartens, which are essential for our welfare system. It’s important that we ensure good kindergartens are accessible to all families across the country. We’ve made significant strides, such as reducing nursery prices, and now we’re focused on taking further steps to improve quality.
**Interviewer:** Many parties have expressed concerns about staffing levels and the overall quality of nurseries. How does the agreement address these issues?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** That’s a crucial point. The agreement explicitly states that there should be legally mandated staffing levels, which means that kindergartens need to have the right amount of staff available at all times, even during illnesses and absences. This requirement is key to maintaining a satisfactory educational environment for children.
**Interviewer:** Some parties, like the Green Party (MDG), have opted out of the negotiations, stating that the measures proposed are insufficient for bolstering staffing and recruitment. What is your response to their concerns?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** While we respect their viewpoint, we believe that a broad consensus is important for a long-term solution. The focus should be on sustainable improvements that support both children and educators. It’s a balancing act, but we’re confident that this agreement lays the groundwork for a better future for our kindergartens.
**Interviewer:** What steps will the Center Party take to ensure compliance with the proposed staffing regulations?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** We will be urging the government to clarify and rigorously enforce these regulations. This includes defining what “appropriate staffing” means and under what circumstances substitutes must be deployed. It’s essential that all parties involved understand their obligations to protect our children’s learning environment.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, what are some of the next steps for the legislation you are working on?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** Going forward, we will be presenting detailed proposals to the Storting, including necessary pension schemes. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that employees in both private and public kindergartens have equal rights and protections, providing a stable and equitable foundation for all workers in the sector.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Marit, for sharing these insights. It’s clear that the future of our nursery sector is a very nuanced issue, but your party’s commitment to improving quality and accessibility is commendable.
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** Thank you for having me! We’re committed to advancing this vital sector for the benefit of children and families across Norway.