– 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Recently, several people have advocated increased staffing in the kindergartens, and several of the parties that have withdrawn from the settlement highlight this point.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 Elise Waagen plan to address concerns raised by political parties like MDG and SV regarding staffing levels in kindergartens?
**Interview with Elise Waagen, Labor Party Spokesperson on Kindergarten Settlement**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Elise. Recently, the Labor Party has been advocating for a new agreement on how to manage and finance the nursery sector. Can you explain why this reform is so crucial right now?
**Elise Waagen:** Absolutely, and thank you for having me. The nursery sector is a foundational aspect of our welfare system. We need to create a climate of predictability and stability in kindergartens so that both children and staff can thrive. This agreement aims to address those priorities and ensure that our kindergartens are well-supported and sustainable.
**Interviewer:** The Center Party has also voiced their support for this settlement. Marit Knutsdatter Strand mentioned that it’s more important to focus on long-term solutions rather than immediate trends. How do you see the dynamics among different political parties in this process?
**Elise Waagen:** It’s vital that we unite across party lines for the benefit of our children. While some parties may have divergent views, the overarching goal is to secure good quality kindergarten services for all families across Norway. By reducing nursery prices and implementing new quality measures, we reach a point where every child has access to a good kindergarten close to home.
**Interviewer:** There have been criticisms from parties like MDG and SV regarding staffing levels and their role in this settlement. What is your response to their concerns about ensuring adequate staffing and resources?
**Elise Waagen:** I understand those concerns. Staffing is crucial for effective educational activities in kindergartens. The agreement emphasizes that the law requires sufficient staffing to maintain a satisfactory educational environment, even during absences. We are committed to clarifying these regulations and ensuring that substitutes are available when needed. Our aim is continuous improvement for both children and employees.
**Interviewer:** In addition to staffing, there is also the matter of pension schemes for employees in private kindergartens. How does this play into the broader goals of the agreement?
**Elise Waagen:** Equal rights for employees in both private and public kindergartens are essential. Including pension schemes in the bill is a step towards achieving fairness within the sector. This is not only about supporting the workforce but also about creating a stable and attractive environment for current and future educators.
**Interviewer:** as the negotiations continue, what are the next steps, particularly regarding parties that have previously withdrawn from discussions?
**Elise Waagen:** Our goal is to maintain an open dialog and potentially address the concerns raised by those parties. We want to demonstrate that this settlement is not just another temporary fix but a comprehensive approach to improving kindergartens in Norway. It’s crucial for us that all voices are heard and that we can come together to support this vital sector.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Elise. It seems like a significant moment for the nursery sector in Norway, and we appreciate your insights.
**Elise Waagen:** Thank you for having me. I truly believe that with collective efforts, we can make a meaningful difference for our children and educators alike.
