– 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Recently, several people have advocated increased staffing in the kindergartens, and several of the parties that have withdrawn from the settlement highlight this point.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 components of the recent agreement on managing and financing the nursery sector in Norway?
**Interview with Elise Waagen, Labor Party Spokesperson on Kindergarten Policy**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Elise. There has been a lot of discussion regarding the recent joint agreement on managing and financing the nursery sector. Can you outline the main objectives of this agreement?
**Elise Waagen:** Thank you for having me. Our primary goal is to create predictability and stability within our kindergartens, which are crucial welfare services for families across Norway. This agreement focuses on ensuring that all children have access to high-quality early childhood education, and it establishes clear guidelines for how private kindergartens will be managed and financed moving forward.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the importance of stability. How do you believe this agreement addresses the ongoing staffing challenges many kindergartens face?
**Elise Waagen:** Absolutely, staffing is a critical issue. The agreement emphasizes legal requirements for sufficient staff levels to ensure that educational activities can be carried out effectively. We also advocate for clarity in staffing regulations, including when substitutes are necessary, especially during sickness or other absences. It is vital that we uphold a standard that guarantees educational quality throughout all opening hours.
**Interviewer:** Marit Knutsdatter Strand from the Center Party highlighted a commitment to reducing nursery prices while improving quality. How does your party see these two aspects working together?
**Elise Waagen:** Reducing costs for families while enhancing quality is essential. By negotiating measures that lower nursery fees, we make early childhood education more accessible for all. At the same time, we believe that with proper funding and regulations in place, we can improve the overall quality of care and education, creating a sustainable system that supports both children and caregivers.
**Interviewer:** Some parties, such as MDG and SV, have expressed concerns that this agreement does not adequately address staffing levels or quality issues. What is your response to these criticisms?
**Elise Waagen:** It’s crucial to engage in constructive dialog. While I respect their viewpoints, I believe this agreement lays the groundwork for ongoing improvements. Yes, it is true that addressing the staffing crisis is a complex challenge, but the measures we’ve outlined are steps towards ensuring better recruitment and retention in the sector. We are committed to revisiting staffing issues as needed to ensure that our children receive the quality care they deserve.
**Interviewer:** what does the future look like for the funding of kindergartens in Norway?
**Elise Waagen:** We are optimistic. The agreement is just the beginning, and we will continue to push for funding that reflects the needs of both public and private kindergartens. Our commitment to equal rights for all kindergarten employees, regardless of the institution type, will help strengthen the workforce as a whole. We believe that with dedicated funding and strong legislative support, we can create a nurturing environment for our children and a sustainable future for our early childhood education framework.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Elise, for sharing your insights on this important topic.
**Elise Waagen:** Thank you for having me! It’s great to discuss such essential developments for our children’s future.