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)
In 2023, the official entrance age to pre-primary education was 4 years old. That same year, the number of years of free pre-primary education granted in legal frameworks was 2. There is no recent information regarding the net enrolment rate for pre-primary for both sexes.
Governance
Laws enacted between 1978 and 1987 designated the Ministry of Education as responsible for overseeing kindergartens (pre-primary education) and developing their educational policies. Sub-central education authorities are responsible for investments in pre-primary education.
Tuition-free status
Pre-primary education is tuition-free, according to laws and policies.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Under Iraq’s decentralisation reforms, education authorities at sub-central levels (Education Directorates) and individual schools carry out selected administrative, financial, educational, and legal functions. These include contracting temporary staff, preparing training plans, approving staff transfers, managing school canteens, and handling budgets of pre-primary levels.
Article 121 of the Constitution stipulates that regions and governorates should receive an equitable share of national revenues, sufficient to fulfil their responsibilities while considering local resources, needs, and population share. However, no formal mechanism has been identified for allocating educational resources specifically to sub-national governments.
In the Kurdistan Region, education is managed locally, maintaining its previous laws since 1992 (Article 141), supported by a share of federal revenues, reflecting unequal decentralization.
The MOE is pushing for a new School-Based Management (SBM) system.
2. Education resources to institutions
The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with UNICEF and the World Bank, implements the School-Based Management (SBM) programme, providing grants to public schools. Managed by School Management Committees, schools assess needs and create improvement plans to enhance education. The programme aims to boost accountability and improve education quality by transferring financial and administrative responsibilities to schools. Funding is based on student numbers and includes training for staff, distribution of guidelines, development of improvement plans, and monetary transfers to schools.
As part of the National Education Strategy 2022-2031, school grants should be provided as part of the school-based development programme for all public kindergartens.
3. Education resources to students and families
No financial support mechanisms for pre-primary education have been identified.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA), in partnership with UNESCO and the World Bank, developed a Child-Sensitive Cash Transfer programme targeting pregnant women, children under five, and school-age children. The initiative integrates cash transfers with health and education services to addressexclusion, improve access to essential services, and promote human development.
The pilot took place in Al Sadr City between 2018 and 2019, with a subsequent round launched in 2022 that remains ongoing. Households with school-age children received an additional 60,000 IQD over eight months if the child maintained attendance, defined as not being absent for more than three days per month. Eligible households received a top-up of 10,000 IQD added to the existing Social Safety Net benefit. The programme is implemented within the broader Social Safety Net framework.
