Kindergartens, 2000

Except for one-year-olds, the percentage has increased for all age groups in the main target group (1-5 years). The greatest increase was for four-year-olds, for whom the percentage from 1999 to 2000 increased by 2 percentage points to over 80 per cent. In addition, five-year-olds also had a percentage of over 80 per cent. Children in so-called open kindergartens are not included in these figures. Percentage means the proportion of children in kindergarten in percentage of all children in a certain age group.

Whereas the percentage for children aged 1-2 was at the same level as the year before (37 per cent), it increased by 1 percentage point to over 78 per cent for the age group aged 3-5. The total percentage, that is, children in educational programs in percentage of all children aged 0-5, was 52 per cent at the end of 2000. If children in open kindergarten are included, the percentage is 54 per cent. This is 1 percentage point higher than last year.

Most new places for three-to-five-year-olds

A total of 189 800 children aged 0-6 had a place in kindergarten. This was an increase of 2 200 or just over 1 per cent compared to 1999. In addition to the 189 800, 5 300 were in open kindergarten programs. Thus, in all, 195 200 children were in a kindergarten program. Whereas the number of places for three-to-five-year-olds increased by 2 400, the number of places for children under 3 were reduced by 150.

Most new full-time places

The number of full-time places, that is, with contracted hours of attendance of 33 hours of more per week increased by 2 200 to just under 120 000 since 1999. However, the number of part-time places has remained stable at just under 69 500. Thus, on a nationwide basis 63 per cent of kindergarten places were full-time places. Oslo and Finnmark had the highest proportion of full-time places, with 89 and 80 per cent, respectively. Oppland and Vest-Agder had the lowest proportion, with 38 and 41 per cent, respectively.

The greatest increase in the number of places were in the attendance categories 25-32 and 33-40 hours per week, with 2 200 new places in both categories. The attendance categories 9-16 and 17-24 hours per week had all together over 2 000 fewer places in 2000 than in 1999.

Fewer private kindergartens

Whereas the number of public kindergartens has been stable compared to the same time in 1999, there were 100 fewer private kindergartens during the same period. Even though the proportion of private kindergartens has gone down, they have retained the same proportion of kindergarten children. Almost 77 000 children had a place in a private kindergarten at the end of 2000, which amounts to about 40 per cent of all children enrolled in kindergarten.

Stable number of employees

At the end of 2000 there were 52 600 employees in kindergartens, who all together worked 40 000 man-years. This is the same level as the year before. Thirty-one per cent of the employees have an approved pre-school teacher education, which is also the same level as the year before.

Tables:

• Table 1 Kindergartens, children and employees, by county. 2000
• Table 2 Children in kindergartens, by age and county. 2000
• Table 3 Children in kindergartens, by weekly attendance, ownership structure of kindergarten and county. 2000
• Table 4 Persons employed and man-years worked in kindergartens, by employment position and county. 2000