Financing for equity in primary and secondary education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to schools
3. Education resources to students and families
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Introduction
In Gabon, the Ministry of National Education centrally manages education financing and oversight, covering school infrastructure, staff, teachers, and training. Funds from the central government are distributed through regional and local education authorities before reaching individual schools. This system uses educational inspectorates and local directorates to supervise spending and ensure alignment with national policies. The Ministry also oversees school bodies and institutions to coordinate resource use within the national education framework.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
In October 2025, the Council of Ministers adopted a major draft decree on the transfer of the State's powers and resources to local authorities. This decision aims to make local governance a reality and to provide local authorities with the necessary means to better meet the needs of the population. This commitment provides for the creation of an Equalisation Fund for Local Authorities, financed by "a special allocation set annually at 10% of the State budget's own resources, as well as contributions from mining, forestry, oil and gas development funds". The transfer of competences and resources will benefit one hundred and thirty-five (135) local authorities, divided between 52 municipalities, 35 districts and 48 departmental councils.
Of the amount to be allocated, 97% is allocated to the development of local authorities, 1.5% to the operation of the Fund and 1.5% to decentralization bodies. 70% of the funds are to be distributed equally among the 135 entities while the remaining 30% is redistributed according to demographic and distance criteria.
The Emergency Community Development Programme (PUDC), in partnership with the UNDP, aims to reduce regional and social inequalities by improving access to basic services, expanding infrastructure, creating local economic opportunities, and strengthening local governance.
A portion of the education budget has been set aside to support schools located in the rural areas.
2. Education resources to schools
Local authorities are required to contribute 10% of their budget to the financing of primary education – instead of the 2.7% of their overall budget that is on average allocated to it annually (5.1% for the departments and 1.8% for the municipalities during the last three years). However, this budget is not spent by local authorities.
The State gives priority to the education of pygmies and supports schools, through various financial means, in order to initiate an adapted didactic programme that would help to bring this community out of illiteracy. This initiative aimed to halve the illiteracy rate of adult pygmies. The objective of this program is to provide pedagogical training adapted to the needs of this population, to build several classrooms and playgrounds, and to offer educational manuals. The financial cost of the pygmy education and integration programme is estimated at about US$1,600 million, according to the Ministry of Public Works.’
In 2010, the government spent 4.06 per cent of its public expenditure on education on the construction and equipment of primary schools and the development of libraries, infirmaries and services for students with disabilities.
No information was found regarding initiatives that allocate funds specifically to disadvantaged schools or those serving target groups.
3. Education resources to students and families
Secondary Education Scholarships
Decree n°0404/PR/MENESTFPRSCJS provides a framework for scholarships in Gabon, which includes secondary education. Awarding of scholarships depends on available offers per specialty, quotas linked to national development priorities, and the aptitude of candidates. Students apply by submitting dossiers reviewed by the National Scholarship Agency and must maintain a minimum academic standard. Scholarships for secondary students are paid quarterly, supporting tuition fees, school materials, and transportation.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Allocation de rentrée scolaire (Back-to-School Allowance)
The Allocation de rentrée scolaire (Back-to-School Allowance) is a social benefit funded by the Gabonese State, aimed at civil servants with at least one child aged 3 to 16 in school, to help finance school supplies. Established at least by the late 2010s, it is managed and paid annually by the Caisse des Pensions et des Prestations Familiales (CPPF). The payments start before the school year, typically around late August or early September, and the programme is a key part of the state's social policy to support families of public employees in preparing for the school year.
Allocations familiales (Family Allowanecs)
Order 0023/PR/2007 establishes the family benefits system. Family allowances are periodic lump-sum payments provided to insured persons for each dependent child, helping cover the costs of raising them. To qualify, families must ensure the effective care and education of the children. Benefits are paid until the child is 17, or up to 20 if the child is still studying or unable to work due to disability or incurable illness. The allowance, managed by the Caisse nationale de sécurité sociale (CNSS), amounts to 7,000 CFA francs per month per child. For the most economically disadvantaged families, family benefits are managed by the Caisse nationale d’assurance maladie et de garantie sociale (CNAMGS).
5. School meal programmes
Currently, Gabon does not have a school meal programme. However, in March 2025, the Minister of National Education and the UNFPA representative held a strategic meeting to initiate a pilot school canteen project. In 2022, UNICEF supported the National Nutrition Centre (CNN) in conducting a national survey on food, health, nutrition, and lifestyles in schools.
In March 2025, Gabon was preparing to establish a national school feeding programme inspired by Benin’s integrated model, which combines nutrition, education, and local agriculture to support vulnerable children. A Gabonese delegation visited Benin to learn from its experience, where since 2017 the programme has provided daily hot meals to 1.3 million students across over 5,700 schools, complemented by life-skills education promoting self-esteem, gender equality, and violence prevention. The initiative in Gabon will aim to improve child nutrition, school attendance, and retention—especially for girls—while engaging local producers and communities, adapting best practices to the Gabonese context through South-South cooperation.
