A recent article in Austurfrétt points out that preschool issues are an equality issue. That is correct. Access to good preschool services is very important to families and has a direct impact on parents' opportunities to participate in the labor market. But when discussing equality in preschool issues, the discussion also needs to revolve around real solutions.
Changes to the preschool fee environment in Fjarðabyggð were not created for ideological reasons. They were the result of the work of a working group that included, among others, the municipality's preschool directors. It was clear that the pressure on staff had increased, staffing problems were becoming apparent, and the number of closing days had increased. This is not sustainable for staff, children, or parents.
If nothing had been done, the direction was clear: more closure days, delayed admissions, or increasingly unstable services. The city council was therefore faced with a choice of reacting before the problem took root.
The path taken involved changes to the fee environment. The goal was to create a better balance in the operation and ensure more stable work of the preschools. The methodology is not considered sacred. On the contrary, it was decided to monitor the impact of the changes and evaluate the results before taking further steps.
There is one thing that experience has shown: that what works well in discussion does not necessarily have to work in practice.
This is best seen in the state of preschools in Reykjavík. The Social Democratic Party and other social-minded people, known here as Fjarðalistinn, have governed the city more or less continuously since 1994. Despite loud declarations of equality and ambitious policymaking, the preschool system there has struggled with long-standing problems. In many places, children do not enter preschools until they are two or three years old, closures are frequent, and waiting lists are long.
These are not solutions that families are looking for.
The goal of the changes in Fjarðabyggð was precisely to prevent a similar development from gaining a foothold here. To act before the problem becomes systemic.
The discussion has also referred to the results of the AFL survey. It is certainly useful to listen to the views of AFL members, but it would also have been natural to also seek out those who work within the preschools in Fjarðabyggð and explore their experiences of the changes. The preschool staff are also parents. Parents who feel guilty about not having the energy to take care of their own children after work due to constant stress and strain.
Preschool issues are family issues. They are about ensuring children receive a good upbringing, parents receive practical support, and staff have the conditions to do their job professionally.
Slogans about equality are not enough on their own. What matters are solutions that work in practice.
Therefore, it is important to discuss preschool issues with consideration and with the interests of children, families and the profession in mind.