My family and I made the decision not long ago to move back home to Fjarðabyggð after living for a while in the capital area. The reasons were many; a quieter community, greater proximity to nature and a better quality of life for the children. There were two prerequisites that had to be met perfectly for my family and I to move back home, and those were, on the one hand, employment issues and, on the other hand, preschool issues, and there was one thing that particularly surprised me after we returned: the safety of preschool issues.
Living in the South, we quickly learned that unpredictability was a part of everyday parenting. Closed days, staff illnesses, and unexpected changes to opening hours meant that you were constantly juggling days, taking time off, or calling in help. This was not only inconvenient, it had a direct impact on work and income, and not least on the stress level in the household.
Here in Fjarðabyggð The situation is completely different. After the changes that have been made to the preschool work, predictability has increased significantly. The number of unexpected closing days has decreased significantly and instead, registration days are offered that parents can plan in advance. The difference is enormous. This is simply security that is difficult to put a price on.
Being able to trust that your child will get to preschool every day, that the day will go smoothly, and that you won't have to constantly have backup plans is crucial for families. This is not a luxury, it's a foundation for being able to balance work and family life.
Then there is another thing that is often forgotten in the discussion about preschool fees. According to my calculations, I am paying about 10% of the actual cost of my child's preschool place, including food. The rest is subsidized by society. It simply means that we have a service that is heavily subsidized, and at the same time that accessibility is good and the service is stable.
When you compare this with other municipalities, the picture becomes even clearer. In the capital area, fees are higher in many places, and in our neighbors in Múlaþing the costs are also higher according to the information I have reviewed. But what is no less important is that in many other places there are waiting lists, a lack of places and even repeated closures of departments.
It is therefore a certain privilege to live in a society where both accessibility and quality go hand in hand and where the system is designed with the needs of families in mind.
I'll say it like it is: it's priceless to know that my children are in a good preschool, that they are getting by, and that our daily lives are going well without a constant state of uncertainty.
For that I simply want to say: thank you. Fjarðabyggð !
Hilmar Jokull Stefansson