– 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Recently, several people have advocated increased staffing in the kindergartens, and several of the parties that have withdrawn from the settlement highlight this point.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
What specific measures does the new kindergarten settlement implement to ensure adequate staffing levels in kindergartens?
**Interview with Elise Waagen, Labor Party Representative, on the New Kindergarten Settlement**
**Interviewer**: Thank you for joining us today, Elise. The recent settlement regarding the nursery sector has sparked quite a discussion. Can you share with our audience what the main objectives of this agreement are?
**Elise Waagen**: Thank you for having me. The primary goal of this joint agreement is to create a predictable and stable environment in our kindergartens, which we believe are fundamental to our welfare system. We aim to streamline the management and financing of the nursery sector to ensure consistency and quality in early childhood education across Norway.
**Interviewer**: It sounds like a significant step forward. What has been the role of the Labor Party in these negotiations?
**Elise Waagen**: Our party has played a crucial role in facilitating discussions among various stakeholders to reach this settlement. We believe that supporting a robust kindergarten system is vital not only for children’s development but also for the workforce. By focusing on patient-centered policies, we hope to align the interests of all parties involved.
**Interviewer**: Marit Knutsdatter Strand from the Center Party mentioned the importance of long-term solutions over the ‘fads’ of other parties. How do you perceive this approach?
**Elise Waagen**: I completely agree. What’s essential is that we focus on sustainable, well-thought-out policies that will endure beyond political trends. We have significantly reduced nursery prices and are actively implementing measures to enhance quality, which we believe will yield long-term benefits for families and society as a whole.
**Interviewer**: We’ve seen some parties like MDG and SV express concerns about staffing levels in kindergartens. What provisions does the settlement include to address these issues?
**Elise Waagen**: The settlement indeed emphasizes the necessity for appropriate staffing levels. It includes legal requirements to ensure that staffing can support satisfactory educational activities, even during absences. We are also calling for clearer guidelines on when to bring in substitutes and potentially adjust opening hours when necessary.
**Interviewer**: Some critics argue that the current agreement does not adequately address the staffing crisis, with Grete Wold from SV stating it doesn’t solve existing problems. What is your response to these concerns?
**Elise Waagen**: Acknowledging valid concerns is important, and staffing is certainly a critical issue. However, I believe that this settlement lays a solid framework for future enhancements. We welcome constructive criticism as it can guide us towards continuous improvement in kindergartens and ensure that the funds allocated are used effectively for our children’s benefit.
**Interviewer**: Thank you, Elise, for shedding light on the new kindergarten settlement and your insights on its implications. We appreciate your commitment to this vital sector.
**Elise Waagen**: Thank you for having me. It’s crucial that we keep the conversation going to ensure that our kindergartens meet the needs of children, families, and staff alike.
