– 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Recently, several people have advocated increased staffing in the kindergartens, and several of the parties that have withdrawn from the settlement highlight this point.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
How will the new agreement on kindergarten management and financing impact the quality of early childhood education in Norway?
**Interview with Elise Waagen, Labor Party Spokesperson on Early Childhood Education**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Elise. There’s been a significant push for a broad settlement regarding the management and financing of kindergartens in Norway. Can you share your perspective on this new agreement and its importance?
**Elise Waagen:** Thank you for having me. Yes, we have reached a joint agreement aimed at creating predictability and stability in our kindergartens, which are crucial for the welfare of families throughout Norway. It is vital that parents feel confident in the quality and affordability of the care their children receive. The new framework will help ensure that kindergartens are well-managed and financed, enabling us to provide consistent educational opportunities.
**Interviewer:** Marit Knutsdatter Strand of the Center Party mentioned that this settlement is designed to stand the test of time, prioritizing quality and affordability. How do you see the role of collaboration among the parties in achieving this?
**Elise Waagen:** Collaboration is essential. Despite diverse views, we recognise that early childhood education needs to be a bipartisan priority. While we’ve seen some parties stepping away from the negotiations, the remaining groups are committed to a robust framework that not only reduces nursery prices but also enhances the overall quality of care and education. This agreement reflects a unified vision for better kindergartens across Norway.
**Interviewer:** There are concerns from the MDG and others about staffing levels and recruitment in kindergartens. How does this agreement address those issues?
**Elise Waagen:** The agreement acknowledges these concerns seriously. We recognise the need for sufficient staffing to ensure that every child receives the educational attention they deserve. The law will require good staffing throughout all opening hours, including provisions for substitutes during absences. It’s a way to ensure that children aren’t left behind, no matter the situation.
**Interviewer:** Some critics, such as Grete Wold from SV, argue that the agreement fails to address the ongoing staffing crisis. What is your response to that?
**Elise Waagen:** While I respect differing opinions, I believe this settlement is a significant step forward. It lays the groundwork for better staffing practices and requires the government to clarify regulations surrounding staffing levels. We are open to future improvements and discussions, but we must also acknowledge the progress we are making today.
**Interviewer:** what do you see as the next steps once this agreement goes into effect?
**Elise Waagen:** The next steps involve careful implementation and the government’s active follow-up on the regulations established. We need to monitor the effectiveness of these agreements continuously and be ready to adapt as necessary to meet the needs of our educators and, most importantly, our children.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Elise, for sharing your insights. It will be interesting to see how this settlement unfolds in the coming months.
**Elise Waagen:** Thank you for having me. I’m hopeful for the future of our kindergartens and the children who benefit from them.
