– 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Recently, several people have advocated increased staffing in the kindergartens, and several of the parties that have withdrawn from the settlement highlight this point.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
How does Elise Waagen respond to criticisms regarding the adequacy of the new kindergarten settlement in addressing the staffing crisis?
**Interview with Elise Waagen on the New Kindergarten Settlement**
*Interviewer*: Thank you for joining us today, Elise Waagen from the Labor Party. There has been a lot of discussion recently about the new kindergarten settlement currently being negotiated in the Storting. Could you elaborate on the importance of this agreement?
*Elise Waagen*: Absolutely. The joint agreement on managing and financing the nursery sector is crucial for creating predictability and stability in kindergartens, which are fundamental for the welfare of families across Norway. We recognize how vital these institutions are for both children and parents, and we intend to ensure they operate effectively.
*Interviewer*: The Center Party has mentioned the need for a long-term solution over the “fads of wing parties.” How do you view this perspective?
*Elise Waagen*: I completely agree with the Center Party on the necessity of a sustainable solution. We need a settlement that not only addresses current issues but also stands the test of time. It’s about ensuring that every community, regardless of its size, has access to quality kindergartens.
*Interviewer*: Several parties, including MDG, have distanced themselves from the negotiations, citing concerns about adequate staffing and recruitment. What is your response to those concerns?
*Elise Waagen*: Their concerns are valid and highlight the need for strict staffing regulations. It is essential that we have sufficient staff to maintain educational quality and provide a safe environment for the children. Our agreement emphasizes the legal requirements for appropriate staffing, even during absences, which is a significant step toward addressing these issues.
*Interviewer*: Grete Wold from SV has criticized the settlement, claiming it fails to resolve the staffing crisis in kindergartens. What do you say to that?
*Elise Waagen*: While I understand the frustrations expressed by SV, I believe our proposal addresses many staffing issues. The requirement for substitutes during staff shortages and the aim to clarify staffing regulations are crucial components aimed at improving the situation. However, we recognize that solutions must be continuously evaluated and adjusted as necessary.
*Interviewer*: what are the next steps for this agreement?
*Elise Waagen*: The next steps involve finalizing the legislation and presenting it to the Storting. We hope to receive broad support for these measures, which are focused on creating equality for employees across both private and public kindergartens. Our commitment to ensuring quality early childhood education is unwavering.
*Interviewer*: Thank you, Elise. It’s been enlightening to hear your thoughts on this critical issue.
*Elise Waagen*: Thank you for having me. It’s an important conversation for the future of our children and communities.
