From August, the program of free 12 hours at SFO will be extended to the second stage. In this way, the families of 60 students will be able to save money. Kindergarten will also be free for all children in Finnmark and Nord-Troms, and from the third child onwards for families with several children in kindergarten at the same time.
“This is a historic expansion of our common school. A year ago, we gave all first graders across the country the opportunity to participate in SFO. Now it's the turn of 2nd graders so they can participate regardless of their parents' wallet. We are also making it cheaper for thousands of families to send their children to kindergarten, says Education Minister Tonje Brenna.
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SFO, cheaper by 20 a year
In autumn 2022, the government introduced a nationwide program of free 12 hours of extracurricular activities for the first degree. In August, after the budget is settled with the SV, it will be extended to the second stage.
12 hours of free SFO is equivalent to a part-time place. Today, such a place costs on average NOK 1924 per month. In this way, families will be able to save around NOK 20 per student per year.
Previous research has shown that price is an important reason for not using out-of-school care. With the introduction of 2022 hours of free extracurricular activities for the first stage in autumn 12, a new attendance record was set. The share then increased from 83 percent in 2021 to 92 percent in 2022.
Cheaper kindergarten
The government also continues its efforts to make the kindergarten available to as many children as possible.
From 2022, the government reduced the maximum price by NOK 315. This means that most parents save at least NOK 3465 a year, with two children saving close to NOK 6000. Due to the increase in prices in recent years, the real savings will also be greater than these amounts.
From August 1, the kindergarten will be free from the third child for parents who have several children in kindergarten at the same time. This will affect approximately 3000 children. Such families will save around NOK 24 a year with both the free program and the lower maximum price.
Free kindergarten in Finnmark and Nord-Troms
From August 1st the government will also introduce free kindergarten for all children in the action zone in Finnmark and Nord-Troms. This will affect approximately 4000 children. A family with, for example, two children in kindergarten will be able to save nearly NOK 60 per year.
– Kindergarten is important for children's play, development and friendship. Kindergarten is also important for families so that more people can live and work in the northernmost areas of Norway, says Brenna.
| Total parental fee (if you pay the maximum price) | Price for the month of January 1, 2022 (Solberg government) | Price per month on August 1, 2023 | Nominal change per month | Nominal change per year |
| One child in kindergarten | 3315 | 3000 | -315 | -3465 |
| One child in the first or second stage of the SFO | – 20* | |||
| One child in kindergarten and one child in SFO in XNUMXst or XNUMXnd grade | -23* | |||
| Two children in kindergarten | 5636 | 5100 | -536 | -5891 |
| Three children in kindergarten | 7293 | 5100 | -2 193 | -24 123 |
* The price of a part-time place in SFO varies by municipality, but averages NOK 1924. A family with one child in the first stage of pre-school will therefore be able to save on average around NOK 20 per year for 000 hours of free pre-school. In the fall of 12, the program will be extended to second grade students.
**Table shows overall family savings as a result of lower nursery maximum price and free program
| Total parental fee (if you pay the maximum price) | Price per month on January 1, 2022
(Solberg government) |
Price per month on August 1, 2023 | Nominal change monthly from August 1, 2023 | Nominal change annually from August 1, 2023 |
| One child in kindergarten | 3315 | 0 | -3315 | -36 465 |
| One child in the first or second stage of the SFO | – 20* | |||
| One child in kindergarten and one child in SFO in XNUMXst or XNUMXnd grade | -56* | |||
| Two children in kindergarten | 5636 | 0 | -5636 | -61 996 |
| Three children in kindergarten | 7293 | 0 | -7293 | -80 223 |
* The price of a part-time place in SFO varies by municipality, but averages NOK 1924. A family with one child in the first stage of pre-school will therefore be able to save on average around NOK 20 per year for 000 hours of free pre-school. In the fall of 12, the program will be extended to second grade students.
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Source: regjeringen
