Financing for equity in primary and secondary education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to schools
3. Education resources to students and families
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Introduction
In São Tomé and Príncipe, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sciences is responsible for allocating and overseeing education budgets across all levels, from pre-primary to secondary education. The Ministry manages the flow of funds to schools and educational institutions, ensuring that resources cover teacher salaries, school infrastructure, learning materials, and various programs to support student access and learning. Education funding in the country is supported not only by the government budget but also through international aid and development partnerships, which play a significant role given the country’s economic context. The Ministry’s role includes both strategic budget allocation and oversight to improve education quality and equity, within a policy framework aimed at increasing enrollment, completion rates, and addressing disparities in access to education.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
According to Law 4/2018 (Framework Law of the Education System), the funds allocated to education are distributed according to the strategic priorities for the development of the education system. The State ensures the creation of a fund for the maintenance of school buildings and equipment. It also states that the state shall contribute to correcting regional and local development asymmetries, namely by increasing equal access to the benefits of education, culture and science throughout the country. However, no information was found regarding the existence of mechanisms for transferring funds from the central government to local governments that take equity into consideration.
2. Education resources to schools
The Charter of Educational Policy of São Tomé and Principe (Vision 2022), ), developed in 2012, set clear objectives to improve the provision of educational resources. It focuses on sustainably and equitably expanding the school network, particularly by building and equipping classrooms in less favoured areas to reduce regional disparities and ensure continuous access to education across districts.
Special Needs Education
Special Needs Education in São Tomé and Príncipe focuses on developing a comprehensive strategy that includes training specialised teachers, adapting infrastructure for students with special educational needs, and providing direct support to help their learning and social integration. Law 2/2021 reinforces the rights of children and young people with special needs—such as visual, hearing, motor, communication, learning, and behavioural difficulties—and outlines support measures spanning from early childhood to the end of secondary education.
The Programme to Empower Girls aims to fight poverty through education and training while equipping girls with life skills and leadership opportunities. This initiative appears to be linked to the World Bank’s Girls’ Empowerment and Quality Education for All Project (PEREQT), which was approved in 2020 with financing from the International Development Association and the Global Partnership for Education Trust Fund. Together, these efforts demonstrate a collaborative commitment between the national government and international partners to improve educational outcomes and empower girls across the country.
Community School
The Community School in São Tomé and Príncipe aims to extend educational opportunities to the most disadvantaged children, addressing geographic and socio-economic barriers to schooling. These schools are part of broader efforts by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sciences to promote equity and inclusion in education, especially in marginalised and underserved communities. By providing access to education tailored to local needs, community schools help ensure that vulnerable children receive foundational learning and social support that might otherwise be inaccessible.
3. Education resources to students and families
Equitable Access and Social Support Measures in São Tomé and Príncipe’s Education Policy
The Charter of Educational Policy of São Tomé and Principe (Vision 2022), developed in 2012, sets out several objectives to promote equitable access to education. These include providing “isolation” allowances and subsidising transport—such as motorbikes—for teachers working in the most disadvantaged areas. It also emphasises socio-educational support for children from poor backgrounds, including scholarships, improved school meals, transport subsidies, and subsidised school uniforms. The Ministry of Education has been implementing a school transportation policy to help students from remote areas access secondary schools. Additionally, Law 4/2018 (Framework Law of the Education System) introduces School Social Action services, which apply positive discrimination to support economically deprived students through measures such as reimbursement for canteen services, textbooks, school materials, scholarships, and grants. However, no information was found regarding the actual allocation of resources to these initiatives.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Programa Familia (Family Programme)
Programa Familia, established in 2019, is a targeted social protection initiative designed to support households living in poverty and extreme poverty across the country through conditional cash transfers. The programme’s primary objectives are to reduce extreme household poverty and to promote educational access by making financial transfers contingent upon children’s regular school attendance. dministered by the Directorate of Social Protection, Solidarity and Family (DPSSF) under the Ministry of Labour and Solidarity, this policy reflects a focused approach to social assistance that prioritises vulnerable populations in poor geographic areas to improve both economic and educational outcomes.
5. School meal programmes
Programa Nacional de Alimentação e Saúde Escolar (PNASE)
Until 2011, the national school feeding programme was managed and financed by the World Food Programme (WFP). In 2012, a gradual transfer of responsibilities to the government began, marked by the approval of Law No. 4/2012 (the PNASE Law), which established the programme’s general guidelines, institutional framework, and financial autonomy. The law emphasises principles of universality and equitable meal provision. Since 2016, the government has fully taken over the programme through the National School Feeding and Health Programme (PNASE), which allocates funds to schools quarterly to support school nutrition.
