About this bill
Committee divided on making free after-school care a legal right
The Ministry of Education proposed making 12 hours of free after-school care per week a statutory right for pupils in grades 1–3. Members from the Labour Party, Socialist Left Party, Centre Party, and Red Party supported the proposal, while those from the Progress Party, Conservative Party, Christian Democratic Party, and Liberal Party opposed it. The Progress Party argued that current provision already struggles with staffing and funding problems; the Conservative Party worried about municipalities' financial capacity; the Christian Democratic Party contended that resources should prioritize teacher quality; and the Liberal Party demanded staffing requirements and dedicated funding before any legal change.