– 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Recently, several people have advocated increased staffing in the kindergartens, and several of the parties that have withdrawn from the settlement highlight this point.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 Marit Knutsdatter Strand respond to concerns raised by other political parties about staffing and quality in kindergartens?
**Interview with Marit Knutsdatter Strand, Education Policy Spokesperson for the Center Party**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Marit. There’s a lot of discussion lately surrounding the negotiations for a new kindergarten settlement here in Norway. Can you tell us about the significance of this agreement from your perspective?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** Absolutely, and thank you for having me. The new kindergarten settlement is crucial for ensuring that every child in Norway has access to high-quality early childhood education. Our goal is to create predictability and a calming environment in kindergartens, which are essential for both children and their families. We’re particularly focused on reducing nursery prices while simultaneously enhancing the quality of care [[1](URL)].
**Interviewer:** You mentioned quality in kindergartens. What specific measures are being taken to achieve this?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** We are working on ensuring that staffing levels are adequate so that staff can deliver satisfactory educational activities at all times, even in the event of illnesses among staff. It’s essential that substitutes are available whenever there’s a shortfall. This agreement emphasizes the legal requirements for staffing throughout the opening hours of kindergartens [[1](URL)].
**Interviewer:** The Center Party has emphasized the stability of this agreement over the demands of other parties. Can you elaborate on this?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** Certainly. We believe it’s vital to have a long-term solution that is not swayed by the shifting priorities of various political factions. Our focus is on practical solutions that improve kindergartens across Norway for the future, rather than getting caught up in transient political trends. Quality education should be accessible, close to home, and must prioritize the welfare of our children [[1](URL)].
**Interviewer:** However, we’ve seen some parties, like MDG and SV, pull out of these negotiations. What are your thoughts on their concerns?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** Their concerns about staffing and quality are valid, but we believe our approach addresses these issues responsibly. We are actively working to clarify staffing regulations and ensure that the necessary support is in place. While differing views may hinder consensus, our focus remains on crafting a robust framework that guarantees equal rights and protections for all employees in both private and public kindergartens [[1](URL)].
**Interviewer:** And what next steps do you see for this agreement as it moves forward?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** We’ll be presenting this comprehensive bill to the Storting soon, which will include provisions for necessary staffing levels and a pension scheme that applies to all kindergarten workers. The aim is to ensure that regardless of their type of employment—public or private—individuals feel secure in their roles while knowing they are providing essential services to children across the country [[1](URL)].
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Marit. It’s been enlightening to hear your insights on this important issue.
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** Thank you for having me. I look forward to seeing the positive impact of our agreement on the future of Norwegian kindergartens.