The case in summary Fewer students are applying for kindergarten teacher studies. 24 kindergarten teacher studies at nine different universities or colleges have vacancies after the start of this year’s studies. Program manager at the kindergarten teacher training at the University of Southeast Norway, Maria Heiland, believes that the negative publicity about the kindergartens, including low staffing and low wages, may be the reasons for the low numbers of applicants. According to the Norwegian Directorate of Education, there are an average of 13.5 children per kindergarten teacher, and only two out of ten kindergartens have full staff throughout the working day. 1st deputy chair of the Education Association, Ann Mari Milo Lorentzen, believes that the solution is cooperation between employer and employee, and to follow the government’s strategy for recruitment. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. A group of new students stand outside the University of Southeast Norway (USN), campus Vestfold. They have only just met, but are getting to know each other well through a puzzle run organized by the nursery school teacher’s course they have just started. – I always knew that I wanted to become a kindergarten teacher, and I know that I will enjoy it, says Stine Olsen (20). Olsen has already worked a bit in a nursery school. She thinks it’s fun to be with the children and see how they develop. Photo: Eline Molvær Løndal / NRKOlsen has already worked a bit in a kindergarten. She thinks it’s fun to be with the children and see how they develop. Photo: Eline Molvær Løndal / news But there are not many like her, because more and more study places are empty. Figures from Samordna admissions show that 24 kindergarten teacher studies at nine different universities or colleges have vacant places after the start of this year’s studies. This year, 2,657 study places were planned, but it remains to be seen how many of the places will be filled. It depends on how much the educational institutions overbook and how many turn down offers of study places. – A lot of negative publicity Program manager for the kindergarten teacher training at USN, Maria Heiland, is worried about the figures. – It goes beyond the upbringing of the children, because we know that the first years of life are the most important, and then we need qualified personnel in the nurseries. The university has not yet filled the places at any of the six kindergarten studies in Drammen, Notodden, Porsgrunn and Horten. – What could be the reason for the low numbers of applicants? – There has been a lot of negative talk about the nurseries, both about low staffing and low pay. I occasionally hear the term “kindergarten aunt”. For Heiland, the low number of applicants is difficult to understand: – It is the best job in the world. Taking part in the children’s first experiences is completely unique. Photo: Eline Molvær Løndal / news For Heiland, the low number of applicants is difficult to understand: – It is the best job in the world. Taking part in the children’s first experiences is completely unique. Photo: Eline Molvær Løndal / news She believes that more people do not fully understand what being a kindergarten teacher entails, and points out that they also have to be leaders in the kindergarten, which is a demanding job. In two years, the number of students has decreased by 51 per cent on full-time studies and 36 per cent on part-time studies, says deputy dean, Kjetil Reier-Røberg. – These are dramatic numbers. We are particularly concerned about our social mission, which is precisely to train qualified kindergarten teachers, he says. Reier-Røberg believes that the situation is critical: – I hope that all good forces can come together to reverse the trend. Photo: Eline Molvær Løndal / news 13.5 children per kindergarten teacher Outside the university in Horten, four future kindergarten teachers are sitting and discussing one of the tasks they have been given in the rebus run: Should employees in the kindergarten play? – If as an adult you don’t like to play, maybe you shouldn’t become a kindergarten teacher, says Pål Stefan Brekke (36) and looks at the others with a questioning look. – Yes, but sometimes you also have to stand on the outside of the game to let the children play with each other, Stine Olsen replies. Playing with the children is important, the students conclude. Nevertheless, it is not certain that they will have time for that, because everyday life in the nursery is busy and employees feel that there is not enough time. According to the Norwegian Directorate of Education, there are an average of 13.5 children per kindergarten teacher, and only two out of ten kindergartens have full staff throughout the working day. The staffing standard for kindergartens requires that at least one employee must be present for every three children under the age of three and for every six children over the age of three. The Pedagogical Norm requires that there must be at least one educational leader for every seven children under the age of three and for every 14 children over the age of three. Brekke believes that wages are the reason for the low numbers of applicants: – I don’t understand why such an important profession is being given a lower priority. Photo: Eline Molvær Løndal / news – I think it’s sad, because it’s such a good education for which you get a lot in return, says Stine Olsen about the empty study places. Photo: Eline Molvær Løndal / news Stine Olsen does not think anything of the gloomy figures and believes that more people should apply to become kindergarten teachers, but Pål Stefan Brekke believes that the critical situation is necessary. – Let it rage, then we may finally understand that something has to happen, he says. – We must do more Low pay for kindergarten teachers is, as the students believe, among the reasons for the empty study places, says 1st deputy chairperson of the Education Association, Ann Mari Milo Lorentzen. According to the Education Association’s salary calculator, newly qualified kindergarten teachers can count on an annual salary of NOK 507,000 in a public kindergarten, and NOK 513,000 in a private kindergarten. However, the picture is more complicated than that. – It’s no secret that working in a nursery is hard. In addition, we see that more and more people are leaving the profession early. – We know that in the professions where people enjoy working, the applicant numbers are high, says Milo Lorentzen. Photo: Magnus Skatvedt Iversen / news The deputy leader nevertheless believes that it is possible to reverse the trend if employer and employee cooperate and follow the government’s strategy for recruitment. – Some municipalities entice with recruitment grants and cover education, so there are many who do a lot, but we have to come together and do even more so that the profession becomes attractive to more people. Published 20.08.2024, at 17.14
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Struggling to fill up kindergarten teacher studies – believes the profession receives negative attention – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
