Financing for equity in higher education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to institutions
3. Education resources to students
4. Support for students' living costs
Introduction
Key financing indicators (UIS Data)
Between 2006 and 2020, the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education in Togo ranged from 4.95% to 14.90% over the years. The initial government funding per tertiary student fell from 101.46% in 2007 to 60.74% in 2017, while household funding per tertiary student rose slightly from 37.81% in 2007 to 44.25% in 2015.
Tuition-free status
Public tertiary education is not tuition-free under national law. According to Article 49 of the Law No. 2017-005 of 19 June 2017 on the Orientation of Higher Education and Research, students and learners who benefit from higher education services contribute to the cost of training.
Governance
The governance and financing of higher education fall within the ministry charged with Higher Education and Scientific Research, attached to the Minister of National Education. The ministry is responsible for developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the State’s policy in higher education and research. According to Article 62 of Law No. 2017-005 on the Orientation of Higher Education and Research, public higher education institutions derive their resources from state subventions, grants from local governments, student registration and participation fees, and revenues from service contracts. As the supervisory body, the MESR oversees the allocation and management of these public funds, defines and regulates study programmes, determines admission and diploma conditions, and sets the rules for granting and managing university scholarships and financial aid.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
There is no evidence of a formal funding mechanism in Togo that transfers resources from the central government to local governments specifically for public higher education. According to Article 62 of Law No. 2017-005 on Higher Education and Research, public institutions may receive subsidies from both the State and local authorities, but the law does not establish any regulated process for channelling central funds through local governments. In practice, higher education funding is managed directly by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESR), which allocates state subventions to public universities.
Since 2017, decentralisation reforms have aimed to increase local involvement in education financing. The Local Authority Support Fund (FACT), launched in 2020, allocates resources to municipalities based on formulae that consider local needs and disparities, introducing some equity elements. However, there is no evidence of quota systems or targeted allocations specifically for public higher education at the municipal level.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
Private universities in Togo do not receive public funding. Law No. 2017-005 on Higher Education and Research specifies that state financial support is reserved for public higher education institutions. Private institutions operate independently under ministerial authorisation and accreditation. While the government oversees these universities through quality assurance and accreditation mechanisms, it does not provide direct financial assistance.
Allocation and equity
Public higher education institutions receive government subsidies. The specific criteria used to allocate these funds, and whether equity considerations are applied in the distribution process, are not publicly disclosed.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
Law No. 2017-005 on the Orientation of Higher Education and Research guarantees equal access to higher education for all citizens. While there are no specific admission quotas or reserved places for disadvantaged groups, the law explicitly ensures integration of students with disabilities so that they can study under conditions equivalent to those of other students.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
National higher education scholarships in Togo are administered by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESR) through the Direction des Bourses et Stages (DBS). Eligibility requires Togolese nationality, enrolment in a public or accredited private university, possession of a baccalauréat with a required academic performance threshold, and compliance with annually updated criteria such as age at examination, number of registrations, and validated credits. Allocation is primarily merit-based, with no evidence of integrated social or equity-based criteria.
The DBS also manages allowances (allocations de secours) for students facing financial hardship who do not receive scholarships. Applicants must be Togolese nationals, regularly enrolled in a public university, and meet age and registration requirements. These allowances provide general support for living and academic expenses, but no formal income- or equity-based targeting is evident.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation, accommodation and textbooks
No separate government programmes exist for transportation, accommodation, or textbook support for tertiary students. These costs are indirectly addressed through the national scholarship and allowance schemes administered by the MESR.
This profile was reviewed by Kossi Edem YOVOGA, Education Researcher.
