Household payments for kindergarten, 15 January 2007, January

The survey results reveal slightly stronger price increases in public kindergartens than in private kindergartens from August 2006 to January 2007.

Increase in public kindergarten fees

At the national level, families with an annual income of NOK 250 000 paid an average NOK 2 017 in monthly fees excluding food and additional costs for a public kindergarten place in January 2007. In comparison, families with an annual income of NOK 500 000 paid NOK 2 289 on average. This is equivalent to an increase of 3.2 and 3.1 per cent respectively from August 2006. The average minimum monthly fee excluding food and additional costs was NOK 1 400 in January 2007. Kindergarten fees ranged from NOK 735 in Akershus to NOK 2 330 in Oppland and Møre and Romsdal. In 85 of 109 municipalities, the maximum monthly fee paid was NOK 2 330, the same as the ceiling fee set by the Parliament. The large variations in the minimum fee are a result of income-differentiated payment systems.

The annual ceiling fee set by the Norwegian Parliament from 1 January 2007 increased from NOK 24 750 to NOK 25 630. In accordance with the regulation on household payments in kindergartens, food costs can be charged in addition to the regular fees. The results show that the annual kindergarten fee for families with one child paying the minimum fee averaged NOK 16 560, while families paying the maximum fee paid NOK 26 653, an increase of 4.2 and 3.2 per cent respectively from August 2006. The annual kindergarten fee is determined by the monthly fee, food and additional costs, in addition to the number of months of payment.

Price reduction systems in public kindergartens

Regulations on household payments in kindergartens state that all municipalities must offer reduced payment or payment exemption to families with low income. However, the municipalities are free to decide whether the municipality shall offer income-differentiated payment in public kindergartens. The results from the survey show that the majority of municipalities have a flat payment rate, i.e. the fee is the same regardless of household income. 23 per cent of the municipalities use income-differentiated payment within the kindergartens' ordinary payment system.

Results also show that all municipalities offer price reductions for households with two or more children in kindergarten. In addition, 81 per cent of the municipalities report that private kindergartens in the municipalities use the same price reduction system.

Private kindergarten fees also increased

As of January 2007, the monthly kindergarten fee excluding food and additional costs for families with one child in private kindergarten averaged NOK 2 259, an increase of 2.4 per cent from August 2006. The regions of Trøndelag and Northern Norway had the highest monthly fee, at NOK 2 284, while Agder/Rogaland had the lowest fee, at NOK 2 216.

The annual kindergarten payment for one child in private kindergarten averaged NOK 26 786, an increase of 2.4 per cent from August 2006. The Trøndelag region had the highest annual payment, at NOK 27 349, while Agder/Rogaland had the lowest fee, at NOK 26 464.