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 the Syrian Arab Republic, the official entry age for pre-primary education is 3 years old. While not compulsory, three years of free pre-primary education is granted in legal frameworks. From 2000 to 2024, the net enrolment rate for pre-primary education slightly rose from 8.01% to 10.92%.
Governance
The Ministry of Education is the central authority for early childhood and basic education programmes, including curriculum development, teacher training, and school‑based initiatives for pre‑primary and early grades, the ministry is also responsible for licensing and regulating pre-primary institutions for children aged 3 to 6. In practice, pre-primary education is not compulsory and is reported to be provided on a fee-paying basis by a number of literature. Most pre-primary education schools are privately owned and operated.
Tuition-free status
According to UIS data, three years of free pre-primary education is granted.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Education funding in Syria is highly centralised. No evidence of funding mechanisms for transferring funds from the central government to local governments was found. However, The Ministry of Education is pursuing a decentralization reform that expands the authority of provincial directors across the country.
2. Education resources to institutions
No evidence was found of equity-targeted government subsidy mechanisms allocated directly to public pre-primary institutions.
3. Education resources to students and families
No evidence was found of financial support mechanisms for pre-primary education administered by the ministry in charge of pre-primary education.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
No evidence was found of any social policies outside the Ministry of Education that support access to pre-primary education.
