– 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Recently, several people have advocated increased staffing in the kindergartens, and several of the parties that have withdrawn from the settlement highlight this point.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 do the recent price reductions for nursery services impact families seeking quality childcare?
**Interview with Elise Waagen and Marit Knutsdatter Strand on Kindergarten Policy Reform**
**Interviewer:** Thank you both for joining us today. Elise, let’s start with you. The Labor Party is emphasizing the importance of creating predictability in kindergartens. Can you explain why this is a priority for your party?
**Elise Waagen:** Absolutely. Creating a stable and predictable environment in kindergartens is vital for both children and their families. Kindergartens are a key component of our welfare system, and we want to ensure that they operate smoothly and effectively. By establishing a solid agreement on how to manage and finance the nursery sector, we aim to provide a calm atmosphere where children can thrive, and parents can feel secure about their childcare options [[1](http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/691.html)].
**Interviewer:** Marit, the Center Party has expressed a commitment to long-term solutions over short-term trends. Could you elaborate on this stance and the recent measures your party plans to take?
**Marit Knutsdatter Strand:** Certainly. We believe that stability is crucial for our kindergartens. While other parties might chase fleeting ideas, we are focused on sustainable reforms. Recently, we have drastically reduced nursery prices, which is a significant step toward making quality childcare accessible. Furthermore, we are now looking at new measures aimed specifically at enhancing the quality of education and care provided in these settings [[1](http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/691.html)].
**Interviewer:** There have been negotiations regarding the management and financing of private kindergartens since before the summer. Can you tell us about the challenges faced in these negotiations?
**Waagen:** Yes, several parties have opted out of the discussions, which has complicated the efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement. It’s concerning that the MDG (Green Party) has stepped away, citing insufficient measures for staffing and overall quality. We believe that addressing staffing shortages is essential for a successful education environment. It’s imperative that we fund kindergartens adequately to ensure they can hire and retain qualified staff [[1](http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/691.html)].
**Interviewer:** Marit, there was a consensus among the six parties involved on staffing rules. How do you see this agreement impacting the quality of services in kindergartens?
**Knutsdatter Strand:** The agreement mandates that kindergartens must maintain appropriate staffing levels to ensure satisfactory educational activities throughout their operational hours, even during staff illnesses and absences. This clarity is crucial. We must have robust systems for hiring substitutes, and if necessary, adjusting hours to maintain quality service. This approach will help address the staffing crisis highlighted by many, including our colleagues from SV [[1](http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/691.html)].
**Interviewer:** In closing, what do you both believe is the most critical next step in this ongoing debate about kindergarten funding and staffing?
**Waagen:** For me, it’s about ensuring the voices of educators and parents are heard in this process. We need their input to genuinely address the challenges facing kindergartens [[1](http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/691.html)].
**Knutsdatter Strand:** I agree. It’s essential that our policies not only provide financial support but also create an environment where children and staff can thrive. We need to ensure lasting solutions that focus on high-quality education and care for all children across Norway [[1](http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/691.html)].
**Interviewer:** Thank you both for your insights. It’s clear that the future of kindergarten policy is a pressing issue, and we look forward to seeing how these discussions unfold.
