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)
UIS data indicates that the official entrance age to pre-primary education is 3 years old (1 year old according to the government, which defines preschool as the age between 1-6). In 2024, the net enrolment rate for pre-primary education (both sexes) was 49%.
Governance
The Ministry of Science and Education is responsible for financing preschools, developing the annual preschool education budget, and implementing a unified state policy for early childhood education for ages 1-6, regardless of ownership.
In 2021/22, early childhood education was officially subordinated from local government authorities to the Ministry of Science and Education to improve the management of the early childhood education sector and compensate for the lack of resources and administrative capacity of local authorities. In close collaboration with regional education departments in policy implementation, they centralised the oversight of services, with the aim of promoting accountability and transparency. The Ministry additionally developed an online preschool admission portal, State Agency for Preschool and General Education (under the Ministry of Science and Education), and Preschool Educational Institutions Information System to collect data on all children across the country.
In 2024, the net enrolment rate for preschool education (both sexes) of children aged 1-5 (including school readiness groups) was 40.6% according to government data. In 2025, approximately 9% of the education budget was allocated to preschool education.
Tuition-free status
School readiness groups for 5-year-olds are tuition-free (fully funded by the government).
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Current budget legislation, specifically Article 34.4 of the Law on the Budget System, sets out criteria for calculating grants to municipalities. These calculations take into account population size, the municipality’s financial contribution, income and expenditure levels, geographic location (such as proximity to occupied territories or mountainous areas), local living standards, and planned socio-economic projects.
2. Education resources to institutions
School readiness groups (ages 5-6)
School readiness groups for 5-6-year-olds were officially launched nationwide in 2016 with the goal to expand pre-primary participation rates, prepare children for formal schooling, and improve educational outcomes. While pilot groups were originally financed through parental fees, the government took over funding in 2016. Through annual allocation of government funds to ensure its financial sustainability, the programme was made free for 5-6-year-olds (with plans to eventually make it compulsory), with 98% of costs (including tuition and learning materials) covered by the state budget. Once the Ministry of Science and Education took over ownership of the programme, the public funds allocated to school readiness increased each year, from 6 million AZN in 2016 to 35 million AZN in 2019. These groups were opened in existing public schools or public kindergartens, and particularly in rural and remote regions which previously had no access to preschool education.
Community-based preschool education project (ages 3-4)
The community-based preschool education project was launched in 2017 for children aged 3-5 in specific remote villages and regions, with funding from UNICEF Azerbaijan, EU Azerbaijan Delegation, and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The government now includes these groups within the state budget, with plans to expand nationally.
Alternative preschool education services and grant competition for private preschools
In 2023, the Order on Alternative Education and Funding was approved, and since 2024, alternative education and funding models have been implemented in the field of preschool education based on a pilot grant program titled 'Organisation of Alternative Preschool Education Services' to support the expansion of access to preschool education. A ‘grant competition for private preschool education institutions’ was additionally announced by the Ministry of Science and Education to further increase the coverage of preschool education. The competition aims to enrol children who were unable to gain admission to public preschools for the 2024–25 academic year into available spots at private preschools and to partially cover their tuition fees through grants.
Teacher salary allowances
According to the 2017 Preschool Education Law, preschool teachers receive additional salary allowances if working in preschools for children with disabilities, including in high mountainous and border areas, and remote settlements.
Teachers in remote areas also receive legal privileges. To attract young specialists (under 35) to rural schools, those working for at least three years are granted 90 AZN monthly for utilities and rent, plus an additional 100 AZN if the school is over 20 km from a district center.
3. Education resources to students and families
Financial support in the form of grants is provided to preschools directly to enrol disadvantaged students, and not students or families themselves by the Ministry of Science and Education.
Special attention is given to increasing access to preschool education for vulnerable groups. According to the 2017 Preschool Education Law, public preschools must prioritize the admission of children from the following groups: families of martyrs, participants of the Karabakh War and the Patriotic War, individuals with war-related disabilities, single working parents, individuals with disabilities due to 61–100% loss of bodily functions, parents in military service, student mothers, families with many children, and children under guardianship.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
The Rules for the Social Protection of Students in State Preschool Educational Institutions regulate the provision of social protection services for children enrolled in public preschools. These services include the provision of clothing, footwear, nutrition, as well as psychological and medical support for orphans, children deprived of parental care, and children with disabilities.
In addition, parents or guardians of children with disabilities may receive social allowances and compensation measures in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Social Benefits.
This profile has been reviewed by the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Dr. Ulviyya Tofiq Mikayilova (ADA University, Azerbaijan).
