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 (UIS) is 4 years old. In 2021, the net enrolment rate for pre-primary for both sexes (UIS) was 30.62%.
Governance
The MoE is responsible for allocating and overseeing the budgets for pre-primary education, according to Law 21(2015) on Rights of the Child. The budget is subject to approval from the MoF (Decree 31 of 1978) and the National Assembly (Constitution, 1962). No equity measures have been identified.
Tuition-free status
Preschool education is provided for free in public institutions for Kuwaiti citizens, but its compulsory status is unclear. Budget and summary documents from the Ministry of Education (MoE) claim that education is compulsory for the two years of kindergarten from ages 4-6 according to Kuwaiti law. However, the Compulsory Education Law (1965) states that compulsory education starts at age 6 in primary school rather than kindergarten. Multiple other sources, such as the National Committee for Sustainable Development in Kuwait state that kindergarten is not compulsory. News reports suggest that there has been a push to make kindergarten mandatory but that it has not yet been fully realised.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Although some administrative functions have been decentralized to the education district level, budgeting remains centralized under the MoE.
2. Education resources to institutions
The government fully funds state kindergartens which provide pre-primary education for 4–6-year-olds. The MoE allocates funds for teacher salaries, operational and capital expenditures, curriculum development, and special education services for kindergartens through the same mechanisms as primary and secondary education. No equity-targeted funding was identified.
3. Education resources to students and families
No information was found.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
No information was found.
