Social Democrats: Compulsory preschool from two years

Social Democrats: introduce compulsory preschool education for two-year-olds

Of: Malin Wigen

Published: Oct 16, 2020 at 1:31 p.m.
Updated: October 16, 2020 at 1:54 p.m.

Photo: TT

A new motion on preschool infuriates parents.

A free and compulsory preschool from the age of two. Write representatives of the Social Democrats in a motion to the Riksdag.

One who is critical is Mother Madeleine Lidman, who started a collection of names.

– This made the parents overflow. Some are ready to cry.

Compulsory schooling from the age of two. This is stated by a proposal presented by eleven Social Democratic parliamentarians. They believe that the foundations of life are laid in elementary school and that children who go to preschool perform better in the future.

“It should be considered whether not all children should have the same right to preschool education, regardless of the position of the guardians in the labor market. For many children, preschool is also the place where they really meet other people or where they come from destructive family relationships. Preschool staff can be the one to see and sound the alarm when children are at risk of harm. ”The eleven Social Democratic politicians write in a motion to the Riksdag.

They also suggest that preschool should be free.

In addition to giving all children the same opportunities, the proposal should also contribute to a more equal society, they say.

“Women continue to represent the majority of unpaid tasks, have more GVA days and take out a greater part of parental insurance. Childcare is key to allowing more women to enter the labor market and obtain the financial security necessary for release.”.

Name collection has started

Critical voices have been raised on social media. Some believe that compulsory preschool from the age of two would only put a greater burden on an already pressured preschool. Others believe that the proposal deprives parents of the right to decide what is best for their own children.

One who is critical of the proposal is the mother Madeleine Lidman, a deputy in the school committee of the Moderados of the municipality of Solna, who already last November began a collection of names when voices were raised about the introduction of compulsory preschool education to from three years. Last spring, 5,000 people signed the proposal. Now, with the new motion, it has received some 15,000 signatures.

– This made the parents overflow. They are desperate and upset, some are ready to cry. This proposal is not popular, you miss everything that young children need.

Madeleine believes that the proposal would mean that parents, for example, cannot have their children at home for a pleasant day, or go on vacation, as schooling will be mandatory. Also, children work differently, for those children who have neuropsychiatric disabilities like ADHD or Asperger’s it can be devastating to put them in preschool too early.

– It will make it harder for parents to adjust to their only child. You must have a vision that the child assumes, you do not do that if you deprive the parents of the opportunity to choose.

According to those behind the proposal, this should give all children the same opportunities, what do you say about it?

– What are the possibilities? A father knows what is best for his own child. If a family is in trouble, it must be supported in another way.

“Proposal misinterpreted”

Anna Wallentheim (S), is one of the people behind the exercise. According to her, the motion has been misinterpreted and she believes the approach has failed.

– For us, it wasn’t about making preschool compulsory for all two-year-olds. The basis of the exercise is that we want to reach these children who do not go to preschool.

According to her, it is necessary to investigate why some children do not go to preschool, because the fact is that most children start preschool at an early age. Of those who start later, many have foreign-born parents and some are worse off.

– Preschool is good for language development and allows children to come into contact with a different environment and with other adults. We must focus on how we increase equality already in the preschool age.

In addition, he believes that one should see the situation within the preschool, regardless of the change that is made, in response to criticism of the situation within the preschool is already under pressure.

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Published: Oct 16, 2020 at 1:31 p.m.

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