– 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Recently, several people have advocated increased staffing in the kindergartens, and several of the parties that have withdrawn from the settlement highlight this point.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 ensure 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
What are the key measures the Labor Party aims to implement to ensure stable financing and effective management of the kindergarten sector in Norway?
**Interview with Elise Waagen – Labor Party’s Perspective on Kindergarten Sector Reforms**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Elise Waagen from the Labor Party. The recent negotiations around the kindergarten sector have been quite intense. Can you explain the main objectives of this new settlement?
**Elise Waagen:** Thank you for having me. The primary goal of the joint agreement is to manage and finance the nursery sector effectively, ensuring predictability and stability for kindergartens. This is crucial because kindergartens are a fundamental part of our welfare system. We need to create an environment where both children and staff can thrive.
**Interviewer:** The Center Party has also expressed strong views on the need for stability over temporary solutions. How do you see their stance as complementing yours?
**Elise Waagen:** I believe we are aligned in our focus on long-term solutions. The Center Party emphasizes the importance of ensuring that quality kindergartens are accessible to people throughout Norway. By reducing nursery costs and enhancing quality measures, we are making strides in safeguarding the future of early childhood education.
**Interviewer:** Negotiations have had challenges, with parties like MDG choosing to step away. What reasons do you think lie behind these withdrawals?
**Elise Waagen:** MDG’s concerns are valid in terms of wanting strong staffing measures and ensuring good conditions for both children and staff. However, the six parties that have agreed are focused on creating a comprehensive plan that addresses these issues by establishing clear staffing requirements and ensuring that adequate substitutes are available when needed.
**Interviewer:** Critics like SV have called this settlement a failure in solving key problems in the kindergartens. How do you respond to these claims?
**Elise Waagen:** While I understand their frustrations, it is essential to recognize that change takes time, especially in significant sectors like early childhood education. We are laying the groundwork for better staffing and educational standards, and we have to remain committed to continuous improvement rather than seeking immediate perfection.
**Interviewer:** There seems to be a strong emphasis on clarifying staffing regulations. Why is this aspect particularly important?
**Elise Waagen:** Clarifying staffing regulations is crucial because effective staffing is the backbone of a good educational experience. The law mandates sufficient staffing levels to ensure quality education during all opening hours. This includes provisions for when staff are absent, meaning we must be proactive in recruiting substitutes to maintain those standards consistently.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Elise. It sounds like the agreement aims not only to address current issues but also to set a framework for future improvements in the kindergarten sector.
**Elise Waagen:** Exactly. We are dedicated to ensuring that all children have access to high-quality early education, which lays the foundation for their future learning and development. Through collaboration and sustained effort, we can make meaningful improvements in the nursery sector for everyone involved. Thank you!
