Household payments for kindergarten, 15 January 2006, January

The Norwegian Parliament lowered the ceiling price for kindergarten fees from NOK 2750 to 2 250 per month at the start of 2006. Yearly ceiling fees were reduced from NOK 30 250 to 24 750. Due to the lowering, there were significant decreases in public kindergarten fees. On the average, families in public kindergartens with annual incomes of 250 000 paid NOK 2 010 monthly excluding food fees in January 2006, a decrease of 14.7 per cent from the year before. Families with annual incomes of 500 000 paid NOK 2 257, a decrease of 17.7 per cent from January 2005. In January 2006, the minimum monthly payments excluding food costs ranged from NOK 620 in Rogaland county to NOK 2 257 in Nordland county.The maximum monthly payments ranged from NOK 2 233 in Troms county to NOK 2 371 in Rogaland county. The large variation in minimum payments can be attributed to the income graded payment system enforced in 31 per cent of the municipalities in the sample.

Private kindergartens decrease fees

As of January 2006, families with one child paid a monthly average of NOK 2 332, excluding food fees in private kindergartens, an 11.5 per cent decrease from January 2005. The region of Eastern Norway had the highest maximum monthly payment of NOK 2 389, while Northern Norway had the lowest monthly payment of NOK 2 219. The yearly payments for families with one child averaged NOK 27 222.. Eastern Norway had the highest yearly fees for one child with NOK 27 702 while Northern Norway had the lowest fees with NOK 25 966. Yearly fees for families with two children was also highest in Eastern Norway with NOK 46 964 and Northern Norway had the lowest fee with NOK 44 710.

The reduction in the ceiling price was made possible with an increase in government subsidies for kindergarten operations. The new law took effect January 1, 2006 and kindergartens were given 3 months to comply with the new ruling.