Household payments for kindergarten, 15 August 2005, January

Slight increase in fees in public kindergartens

The slight increase in monthly and annual charges from August 2004 to August 2005 was felt more by families with lower income levels and families with two children in public kindergartens. On the average, families in public kindergartens with low income paid NOK 1 528 while families with high income paid NOK 2 753, an increase of 2.5 per cent and 1.6 per cent from August 2004 respectively. In August 2005, the minimum monthly payments excluding food costs ranged from NOK 705 in Rogaland county to NOK 2 750 in Møre and Romsdal while the maximum monthly payments ranged from NOK 2 585 in Finmark county and NOK 3 078 in Rogaland county. The large variation in minimum payments can be attributed to the income graded payment system enforced by around 30 per cent of the municipalities.

Annual charges including food costs for families with one child paying minimum fees, on the other hand, averaged NOK 17 665 while families paying maximum fees averaged NOK 30 949, an increase of 3.6 per cent and 1.7 per cent respectively, compared to August 2004. In the same period, families with two children and low income were charged on the average NOK 29 941 annually while families with high income paid an annual average NOK 52 328, an increase of 4.7 per cent and 3.0 per cent respectively.

Private kindergartens decrease fees slightly

As of August 2005, private kindergartens families with one child paid on the average NOK 2 644, excluding food. The region of Agder and Rogaland had the highest maximum monthly payment of NOK 2 738. Yearly payments for one child averaged NOK 30 609, a 1.5 per cent decrease from August 2004 to August 2005. Western Norway region had the largest annual fee decrease in fees for one child of 5.6 per cent, while Northern Norway region had the most increase in annual fee in the same period.