Household payments in kindergartens. Price level survey
04.02.10 Day-care centres, preschools
The survey is carried out twice a year. Results based on the January survey are published five months after the survey period while results based on the August survey are published three months after the survey period.
The statistics are published on municipal level through the reporting system KOSTRA (Municipality-State-Reporting) in addition to regional and national level.
Division for Economic Indicators
The Statistics Act of June 16, 1989 no. 54, §2-1, 2-2 and 2-3
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The main purpose of the statistics is to monitor the development in price levels and payment regulations related to household payments in kindergartens. The survey was established in 1992 as an assignment from the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs and the current survey is carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Education and Research. The survey measures kindergarten payments per 15 January and 15 August every year, and is based on the same data as the rate of change survey for public and private kindergartens. As of January 2003, the average price levels for public and private kindergartens were weighted, as opposed to previous surveys. In addition, the survey no longer distinguished between private kindergartens who receive financial support from the municipality and other kindergartens. In 2007, the data collection for public kindergartens was revised. Data for public kindergartens are collected electronically through KOSTRA and cover all municipalities in Norway. The questionnaires for public kindergartens were revised in 2007 and now include questions on possible additional fees and price reductions in kindergartens. The questionnaires for private kindergartens were also revised and include similar questions.
The survey is used to monitor the development of kindergarten fees on a regional and national level. The statistics are primarily used by the Ministry of Education and Research, in addition to some municipalities.
The survey covers all municipalities in Norway. The municipalities are asked to provide information about the following:
In addition, the survey contains approximately 250 private kindergartens, which are asked to provide the same information for full time offers.
Postal questionnaires for private kindergartens and electronic reporting for public kindergartens.
Beginning in January 2007, the municipalities report electronically through KOSTRA, which entails that all municipalities are included in the survey. The selection of private kindergartens is carried out as a random sample following the stratification of the population by geographical area.
Both municipalities and private kindergartens report twice a year, with deadlines in January and August. Municipalities report electronically while private kindergartens report by postal questionnaires. Reminders are sent out and followed up via telephone or e-mail if necessary.
The data from private kindergartens are registered manually in Excel whereas data from municipalities are controlled in SAS. The data are checked against previously reported data in order to identify any deviation. In the case of strong deviations, the municipality or kindergarten is contacted.
Average monthly and annual payments including additional costs for children over three years of age are calculated for income levels NOK 250 000, NOK 375 000 and NOK 500 000, in addition to minimum and maximum fees. The income levels only represent point estimates, not income intervals. In addition, average annual fees are computed based on defined income intervals. The payment on municipal level is weighed to regional and national level according to the number of children in public kindergartens. Private kindergartens are stratified according to geographical regions and average monthly and annual payments are based on the payment fees within defined income intervals. The regional average figures are weighed up to a national average level according to the number of children in private kindergartens.
Data collected from firms are subject to secrecy and are to be kept or destroyed in a secure manner. Any use of the data must be in accordance with the rules set by the Norwegian Data Inspectorate.
Flat payment system: Kindergarten fees independent of household income.
Income differentiated payment system: Kindergarten fees based on household income.
Minimum fee: The minimum fee is the lowest fee specified in a municipality's payment system. The minimum fee is not tied to a specific income level and varies between municipalities.
Maximum fee: The maximum fee is the highest fee in a municipality's payment system. The maximum fee is not tied to a specified income level and varies between municipalities.
Additional fees: Fees for various activities and arrangements which may be charged in addition to the monthly fee and food costs.
Regional and national level.
Possible sources of error have not been mapped, however mistakes may be made when filling in the questionnaire. Mistakes that are discovered are corrected during the revision period. The municipal data are collected electronically and tested for possible errors.
The response rate for municipalities is 95-96 per cent. The response rate is lower for private kindergartens. The response rate when the deadline has expired is around 60 per cent for private kindergartens. However, the response rate increases after reminders are sent out.
Statistics Norway has not done any calculations of skewness for the survey. As all municipalities are included, this type of error is not relevant for the survey on public kindergarten fees.
Household payments in public kindergartens are comparable from 1992 to 2007 at municipal level. The fees at aggregate regional and national level, on the other hand, are not directly comparable with previous years due to the introduction of weights in January 2003. From August 2007, the average data are based on an almost full count of the municipalities.
A report is sent to the Ministry of Education and Research and is based on the same material used in the survey on rate of change in kindergartens. The same material is also used in the Consumer Price Index.
http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/04/02/10/barnegenniv_en/
The statistics are published electronically on Statistics Norway's website.
The material is stored in excel and in Unix.