– 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Recently, several people have advocated increased staffing in the kindergartens, and several of the parties that have withdrawn from the settlement highlight this point.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 does the Center Party address staffing concerns raised by other political parties regarding the current kindergarten settlement?
**Interview with Marit Knutsdatter Strand, Education Policy Spokesperson for the Center Party**
**Interviewer**: Thank you for joining us today, Marit. Let’s begin with the recent developments in the nursery sector. The Labor Party’s Elise Waagen highlighted the importance of a joint agreement for managing and financing kindergartens. How do you view this agreement, especially in terms of long-term stability?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand**: Thank you for having me. I believe that achieving a sustainable settlement in the kindergarten sector is crucial. Our goal has always been to ensure that good kindergartens are accessible close to where people live across Norway. By reducing nursery prices and focusing on quality improvements, we are creating a system that can withstand the test of time, rather than just responding to the fluctuating demands of different political factions.
**Interviewer**: There have been criticisms from other parties, including the MDG and SV, who argue that this settlement doesn’t adequately address staffing issues. How does the Center Party respond to these concerns?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand**: We acknowledge that staffing is a significant issue in kindergartens. The settlement requires that kindergartens maintain sufficient staffing levels to provide satisfactory educational activities throughout their hours of operation. This includes provisions for substitutes during absences. While I understand the frustrations of those who think we need more immediate action, our approach is to ensure a broader, more sustainable foundation for the sector that will ultimately benefit both children and employees.
**Interviewer**: Speaking of sustainability, there’s a push for clearer regulations regarding staffing standards. Can you explain what changes are being proposed in this area?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand**: Absolutely. The parties involved in the settlement are advocating for clearer guidelines on what constitutes appropriate staffing. This includes defining when substitutes are necessary and how to handle situations where staffing levels may fall short due to illness or other absences. It’s essential that we have a clear legal framework that ensures every child receives the attention and education they deserve.
**Interviewer**: In light of the various parties stepping away from negotiations, what does the Center Party see as the future of this settlement process?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand**: It’s essential for us to build a robust, long-lasting agreement that prioritizes quality and accessibility in the nursery sector. We recognize that negotiations can be challenging, especially when differing priorities emerge. However, I am optimistic that the six parties currently involved can create a settlement that benefits children, staff, and families alike. We are working diligently to ensure that the necessary resources and frameworks are in place, and I believe we can deliver a proposal that eventually earns broad support.
**Interviewer**: Thank you, Marit, for your insights. It will be interesting to see how these discussions evolve in the coming weeks.
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand**: Thank you for having me. I look forward to contributing to a positive outcome for our kindergartens.