Financing for equity in pre-primary education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to institutions
3. Education resources to students and families
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Introduction
Key financing indicators (UIS Data)
The official entrance age to pre-primary education is 3 (UIS 2024 estimates). The net enrolment rate for pre-primary for both sexes is 53.17% (UIS 2023 estimates). No data is found regarding the number of years of free pre-primary education granted in legal frameworks, and the number of years of compulsory pre-primary education granted in legal frameworks.
Governance
Pre-primary education is financed mainly through the central government budget: the Ministry of Finance and Economy coordinates the national budget across ministries (including education), while the Ministry of Education is the lead agency overseeing preschools/kindergartens and funding for the public school system, including preschool classes attached to government primary schools. Within the Ministry of Education, the Department of Administration and Services plays a key role in budget and finance management and in coordinating the submission of the ministry’s annual budgets to the relevant authorities.
The Ministry of Education’s Department of Private Education governs private pre-primary education.
Tuition-free status
Pre-primary education is free and compulsory starting from the age of five in Brunei in accordance with the 2023 Compulsory Education Act Amendment Order.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Public funding for pre-primary education flows centrally from the Ministry of Education budgets to government preschools attached to primary schools, which offer free education. No distinct transfer mechanisms to local governments exist.
2. Education resources to institutions
Public preschools (those attached to government primary schools) are effectively subsidised by being part of the public school system, financed by the Ministry of Education. For more information, see Brunei's PEER Primary and Secondary Education profile.
3. Education resources to students and families
No information is found.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
There are several social programmes that help support families with pre-school aged children, though not all of them have an education factor.
Zakat Assistance
The Brunei Darussalam Islamic Religious Council administers zakat (monthly financial assistance) to underprivileged individuals, which can also cover education-related expenses, including one-off payments for stationery and books at the start of the school year. The Community Development Department provides monthly welfare assistance to supplement the income of families in need.
Monthly Welfare Assistance
Brunei Darussalam’s Monthly Welfare Assistance for persons with disabilities – described under the 2021 Old Age and and Disabilities Pension (Amendment No. 2) regulations -- offers direct financial support for promoting educational inclusion. The policy helps defray key educational costs such as transportation, assistive technologies, learning materials, and participation in specialised school programmes, thus enabling equitable access to mainstream and special education settings. It provides a monthly allowance of BND 150 to children under 15 with disabilities, limited to citizens and permanent residents. Similarly, BND 150 is provided to children with visual impairments, as an allowance for children with mental disorders, and BND 150 for children in need of rehabilitation. BND 250 is provided to caretakers.
Skim Tabungan Anak Damit (Grant Scheme for Newborns)
In 2026, the government of Brunei rolled out a one-time financial grant scheme provided for each eligible newborn, subject to citizenship status. A one-time payment of BND240 will be granted for each newborn and deposited into a savings account to be used for the child’s needs as they grow. Parents are encouraged to continue to add to the account and only withdraw it to provide for the child’s needs.
Financial Assistance from Multiple National Agencies
Parents who require financial assistance may apply to various national agencies, including welfare benefits provided by the Community Development Department under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports; the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation; BaitulMaal financial assistance; and the Brunei Islamic Religious Council.
