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)
According to UIS data, the official entrance age to pre-primary education in 2024 was four years. In 2023, the net enrolment rate for pre-primary education for both sexes was 67.73 percent.
Governance
The Ministry of Education, science and Culture is responsible for managing and financing all levels of education, including pre-primary education.
Tuition-free status
Pre-primary education is tuition-free in Suriname.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
There are no public funding mechanisms for pre-primary education, as the education system in Suriname is highly centralised.
2. Education resources to institutions
There are no government subsidies allocated to public pre-primary institutions through equity-targeted funding.
3. Education resources to students and families
Pre-primary education is tuition-free. Consequently, the Ministry of Education does not provide financial support mechanisms to families for this level of education.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing (MOSAH / SoZaVo), administers the General Child Benefit (Algemene Kinderbijslag – AKB), a national cash transfer programme that provides financial support to households with children under 18 years of age, including pre-primary-aged children. The benefit is fully financed by the government and aims to support low-income households and families without employer-based child benefits. While not specifically targeted at education, the AKB indirectly supports access to early childhood and pre-primary education by helping families meet basic child-related costs such as food, clothing and school materials.
