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 is 4 years old, with 2 years of free and compulsory pre-primary education guaranteed in legal frameworks. Since 2020/21, compulsory pre-primary education starts at the age of 4, for a two-year period. As of 2022, the net enrolment for pre-primary education for both sexes was 98%.
Governance
Pre-primary education (starting at age 4) is supervised and funded by the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports.
Early childhood education and care provided in infant care, infant/childcare, and childcare centres (for ages below 4) is supervised and financed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs through local authorities. Private settings are supervised by the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs.
Tuition-free status
Pre-primary education (starting at age 4) is part of free, compulsory, primary education.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Local authorities responsible for pre-primary education are funded similarly to primary and secondary schools.
The funding mechanism for operational school needs (utilities, maintenance) was significantly revised by Law 5056/2023, which abolished School Committees and transferred direct management authority to the municipalities. Municipalities receive funds for education based on two main levels of criteria: 1) population and demographic characteristics (total population of the municipality and population in specific age groups, such as preschool children and population aged 3-14, which is directly related to the number of students; and geomorphological characteristics (area and altitude of the municipality to cover increased operating costs in mountainous and island municipalities); and 2) economic/social characteristics (i.e. economic status of the municipality e.g. in an effort to balance fiscal capacity).
2. Education resources to institutions
Pre-primary schools in Zones of Educational Priority (ZEP), Reception Structures for Refugee Education (DYEP), and special schools receive additional funding, similar to primary and secondary schools. However, only special pre-primary schools receive state funding, with ZEP and DYEP schools receiving EU funding.
According to the Law 682/1977 on Private Schools of General Education and Boarding Schools (as amended), private schools (including at the pre-primary level) that operate on a non-profit-making basis may be issued by grants by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, as they are entitled to be included within the expenditure budget of the Ministry.
Infant/child and child care centres are financed through state funding, local government annual grants, donations and proceeds from board fees. Grants are allocated based on the minimum operating cost of the setting, as well as demographic and geographic criteria. The amounts allocated for operating expenses are needs-based, while salaries are provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs through municipalities by means of monthly grants.
3. Education resources to students and families
No specific programme from the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs was found.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Vouchers
Early childhood education provision for children under the age of 4 is paid depending on social criteria and family income, although the majority of families are entitled to vouchers.
As part of the initiative ‘Harmonisation of Family and Professional Life’, municipal child care centres, infant/child care centres, and creative activity centres for children with disabilities are subsidised through vouchers by the Hellenic Agency for Local Development and Local Government to provide accommodation for infants, toddlers and children. Beneficiaries (selected based on family, working, and economic criteria) receive a voucher to facilitate employment access for mothers and harmonise family and professional life, by providing childcare services for dependent family members. If the parents or child has a disability rate of over 67%, they are entitled to the voucher without the financial criteria. The criteria are determined following a consultation between the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, and the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece. The Hellenic Agency for Local Development and Local Government implements the project, while it is financed by both national and EU resources.
During registration, children whose parents are both working, children of unemployed or disadvantaged families and preferably, children in need of particular care for social reasons (i.e. single-parent children, of separated parents or having a special needs parent) have priority in selection.
This profile has been reviewed by Dr Halkiotis Dimitrios, Adjunct Lecturer at the Greek Open University and Certified Trainer in National Centre of Public Administration.
