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)
In Cameroon, the official entry age for pre-primary education is 4 years old. Between 2007 and 2022, the net enrolment rate for pre-primary education increased from 13.7% to 30.1%. Attendance at pre-primary education is not compulsory, and legal frameworks do not mandate that this level be free.
Governance
The Ministry of Basic Education (MINEDUB) is the principal government body responsible for financing, allocating, and overseeing budgets for pre-primary education in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, through the annual Finance Law.
In addition to MINEDUB, Decentralised Territorial Communities (CTD) are increasingly involved in supporting and implementing preschool initiatives, especially in rural areas, as part of government strategies to expand access and community engagement in early childhood education. However, the central responsibility for budget allocation and oversight remains with the Ministry of Basic Education.
Tuition-free status
Public pre-primary education in Cameroon is not tuition-free according to national laws and policies, which mandate free public primary education (per the 1996 Order, 2000 Finance Law, and presidential decision) but exclude the pre-primary/nursery level (ages 3-6).
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Cameroon’s pre-primary funding relies on centralised programmes that transfer resources to local governments and private providers. For instance, Programme 101: "Development of Preschool" aims to increase preschool enrolment nationwide. It channels resources from the central government to local actors. Through the Decentralised Territorial Communities (CTDs), local governments receive funds to implement community-based preschool initiatives, especially in rural areas.
As part of the National Education Sector Strategy (2013–2020), to expand preschool access in rural areas and reduce inequalities, the government will finance the creation of Community Preschool Centres (CPCs) in targeted zones where capacity is well below the national average. The government will support these centres by providing grants through local authorities to raise awareness, build, and equip the CPCs. It will also help recruit local teachers by defining job criteria and profiles. The decentralised local authorities act as the government’s representatives to support preschool education. They carry out activities to acquire school supplies, renovate facilities, and pay support staff.
2. Education resources to institutions
Public pre-primary institutions receive limited subsidies, mainly for personnel. Equity-targeted allocations for rural or vulnerable populations are not formally institutionalized. Instead, Cameroon employs equity-targeted funding via project-based interventions (e.g., disability inclusion, gender/crisis responses) rather than systematic pre-primary subsidy adjustments.
As part of the National Education Sector Strategy (2013–2020), CPC teachers will receive basic training financed by the state. The government will support successful community projects in rural pilot schools that have helped enrol children aged 3 to 5, especially those involving parents.
The National Education Sector Strategy (2013–2020) also calls for implementing school contracts in 80 private pilot schools to encourage private operators to support formal preschool education in urban centres through subsidies. Under this programme, based on a 2004 law on private education, subsidies are granted only if the schools demonstrate efforts to improve education quality.
3. Education resources to students and families
The Ministry of Basic Education does not currently have a programme that delivers cash benefits, grants, or vouchers directly to the families of pre-primary students at the national level. Instead, the Ministry facilitates access to pre-primary education primarily through investments in infrastructure, curriculum, and staff development through initiatives such as Programme 101: "Development of Preschool". Programme 101 implements inclusion measures in response to disparities observed in communities, targeting children from poor and disadvantaged families, indigenous populations, vulnerable children, refugees, and internally displaced persons. Through Programme 101, CPCs may offer additional indirect benefits to families, including health and well-being activities and parent education.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
The Adaptive Safety Nets and Economic Inclusion Project (ASNEIP) is the largest social protection programme operating in Cameroon. The programme, launched in 2013 in collaboration with the World Bank, provides the country’s regular cash transfers to impoverished families, with the dual goals of improving their living conditions and helping them withstand shocks such as food insecurity or displacement. Although PNBSF benefits are not exclusively dedicated to pre-primary education, the transfers help families cover basic needs, making it easier for them to afford education-related expenses such as school supplies, fees, and nutrition. In 2022, the World Bank approved expanded coverage through ASNEIP through 2028.
This profile has been reviewed by the Government of Cameroon, with the support of the National Commission of Cameroon for UNESCO.
