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 5-years-old.
Governance
The Universal Basic Education Commission, and State Universal Basic Education Boards administer basic education, which includes pre-primary, primary and lower secondary education.
At the federal level, the Universal Basic Education Commission is primarily responsible for the funding of pre-primary education (ages 3-5) in public primary schools. Similar to basic education, pre-primary education is funded through a combination of federal and state government funding.
Between 2021 and 2023, pre-primary education received 24% of the education budget.
Tuition-free status
The National Policy on Education (revised in 2013) and the 2004 Universal Basic Education Act mandate every public primary school to have a free pre-primary school to cater for children aged 3-5 years (which is backed by government financing).
1. Education resources to subnational governments
The Universal Basic Education (UBE) Commission provides matching grants to state governments, allocating 5% of these funds specifically to early childhood care and development education.
2. Education resources to institutions
Besides UBE funding (which covers tuition, textbooks and classroom facilities for pre-primary and basic education), state governments also contribute counterpart funding to match federal government grants, including funding for pre-primary education within their jurisdictions at varying levels (and often as part of basic education). Pre-primary schools with students with special needs usually receive additional funding, while nomadic education also often includes early childhood education.
In 2025, the Kano State government revived its school feeding programme across both public early childhood care centres and primary schools.
3. Education resources to students and families
There are no national subsidies or grant programmes for pre-primary students, with most scholarship and bursary programmes administered at the state level and focused on secondary and higher education levels.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
There is no dedicated, direct funding or programme at the federal level explicitly covering pre-primary education within the social protection framework.
