Free day care core time expands in line with rising max price
The free day care core time scheme is extended as of August. It now includes 46,500 children. The maximum price for day care seats has, at the same time, surpassed NOK 3,000 per month.
The day care core time scheme is extended to two-year-olds from August 1st, 2019. 46,500 Norwegian children are now entitled to this.
“This means that more children will have the opportunity to participate in the community, while at the same time giving parents the opportunity to participate in working life. This is good for children, parents and the family alike,” Minister of Culture and Gender Equality, Trine Skei Grande (Liberals), writes NTB in an email.
The leader of the Liberals (Venstre) emphasises that free day care core time is an important measure for the prevention of poverty and being left out.
“We have gradually strengthened the scheme because this is among the government’s main initiatives.”
Do not take advantage of the offer
A significant number of families who could receive free day care do not take advantage of the offer. One reason may be that the scheme is too little known, the Cabinet Minister believes.
“It is important that parents know about reduced parental payment schemes. That is why we have also continued the municipalities’ grants towards active information and recruitment work,” Skei Grande explains.
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A maximum monthly payment of NOK 3,000
the maximum cost of day care increase at the same time as the free core time scheme extends. The price of day care now surpasses NOK 3,000 for the first time.
Leader of the Labour Party, Jonas Gahr Støre, has been critical of the nominal price increase in recent years. Støre believes that it is larger than the growth in the cost of the municipalities would indicate. The government betrays families with young children.
“Day care cost surpasses NOK 3,000 for the first time since the maximum price was introduced. This saves the government NOK 65 million annually. That is enough to pay for this year’s cut in wealth tax to fewer than 360 of Norway’s richest,” Støre tells NTB.
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© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
