Promoting integration of immigrants: Free child care in Oslo

A recent research project suggests that subsidizing centre based child care can improve the cognitive development of children from immigrant families.

Multiethnic

Illustration: Multiethnic

Kjetil Telle and Nina Dragen from Statistics Norway (SSB), together with Beret Bråten and Hedda Haakestad from Fafo, have made an evaluation of the intervention in some districts of Oslo were children of age four and five were eligible for twenty hours of free child care weekly.

Free child care gives positive results

The analysis indicated that the initiative has led to an increase in child care attendance by 15% among 4- and 5-year-old children with an immigrant background.

It succeeded in recruiting more children to child care, but it does not seem that parents were influenced to work more or to take more education. However, it was not possible to investigate whether parents participate more extensively in qualification programs or language courses due to the initiative.

The analysis of tests score of the children provided evidence that children in districts offering free child care did better than children living in other districts.

Quality must be enhanced, segregation must be avoided

During the last years many political committees and advisers have talked in favour of universal and free child care, especially for older children.

The research results seem to provide positive evidence that support their plead, but the quality of child care centres in Oslo varies a lot from district to district and within districts. Quality is one of the crucial factors if we want the learning environment to promote Norwegian language skills. Competent and adequate staffing as well as changes in the current segregation among child care centres in Oslo are also required.

Photo: Kjetil Telle, SSB

This initiative was primarily meant to ensure that all children master Norwegian before starting school. The intervention took place in the following districts of Oslo: Bjerke, Grorud, Stovner, Alna, Søndre Nordstrand and Gamle Oslo.

The research findings were presented by Kjetil Telle, Head of Research at SSB, at the ESOP Seminar on 1 December 2014.

The final report  (in Norwegian) of the study “Promoting integration of immigrants: Effects of free child care on child enrolment and parental employment” can be read here.

By Karen Contreras Lisperguer
Published Dec. 10, 2014 3:54 PM - Last modified Oct. 11, 2022 9:42 AM