– 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Recently, several people have advocated increased staffing in the kindergartens, and several of the parties that have withdrawn from the settlement highlight this point.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
**Interview with Elise Waagen, Member of the Labor Party**
**Interviewer**: Thank you for joining us today, Elise. There has been extensive discussion surrounding the recent agreement on managing and financing the nursery sector. Can you elaborate on why this agreement is so crucial?
**Elise Waagen**: Absolutely, thank you for having me. This agreement is vital because it aims to create predictability and stability within our kindergartens, which are foundational to our welfare system. By establishing a clear framework for management and financing, we can ensure that our nurseries operate effectively and deliver quality care for our children.
**Interviewer**: The talks have been ongoing since before the summer and included several parties. What was the main goal of these negotiations?
**Elise Waagen**: The primary objective was to formulate a new, comprehensive law that addresses how private kindergartens are managed and financed—something we haven’t updated since 2003. It’s crucial that we take into account both the needs of the children and the realities of the sector to ensure sustainability.
**Interviewer**: There has been some dissent, with parties like MDG opting out of the negotiations. They claim the proposals do not adequately address staffing issues or support for workers. How do you respond to those criticisms?
**Elise Waagen**: While it’s important for us to listen to all concerns, we believe that our agreement lays the groundwork for improved staffing over time. We are committed to ensuring that staffing levels are sufficient so that educators can provide high-quality educational activities, even in the face of absences.
**Interviewer**: Marit Knutsdatter Strand from the Center Party emphasized the need for a settlement that endures over time. Why do you think this is particularly significant right now?
**Elise Waagen**: This is significant because we are at a critical juncture. Educational standards and teacher retention are under scrutiny. By focusing on long-term solutions instead of short-lived trends, we can build a robust framework that not only brings down nursery costs but also enhances the quality of care and education that our children receive, which is our ultimate goal.
**Interviewer**: What steps will be taken to clarify staffing regulations as part of this settlement?
**Elise Waagen**: The provisions include a legal requirement for appropriate staffing at all hours, including when staff are ill. We are advocating for more precise definitions of what constitutes acceptable staffing levels and under what circumstances substitutes should be secured. This clarity is essential for creating a reliable environment for both educators and children.
**Interviewer**: Lastly, SV’s spokesperson has indicated that the settlement does not adequately address the staffing crisis. What assurance can you provide to those who are concerned about this issue?
**Elise Waagen**: We recognize the importance of addressing staffing challenges head-on. While our current settlement may not resolve every issue immediately, it does set in motion a series of measures aimed at improving conditions in the long term. Our commitment is to continuously evaluate and adapt these provisions to meet the evolving needs of our kindergartens.
**Interviewer**: Thank you for sharing your insights, Elise. It will be interesting to see how these developments unfold in the nursery sector.
**Elise Waagen**: Thank you for having me. I look forward to a constructive dialogue as we move forward together.