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)
According to the UNESCO UIS, the official entrance age to pre-primary education in Latvia is 3 years old. Though all children from 18 months and up are legally entitled to a place in a preschool institution. The country guarantees 4 years of free pre-primary education, two of which are compulsory, according to legal frameworks. In 2023, pre-primary education had a net enrolment rate of 94.69%.
Governance
Funding is covered partly by the state (teacher salaries) and by municipalities (maintenance). Local municipalities are completely responsible for the education of younger children, which is not compulsory but is free.
Tuition-free status
The compulsory education of 5-6-year-old children is free for families.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Local municipalities fund pre-primary education through a mix of local maintenance budgets and state-funded teacher salaries, with funding largely guided by the “money follows the pupil” model introduced to ensure fair and transparent allocation. Additional support is provided through the Equalisation Fund, which redistributes resources to reduce disparities between municipalities, placing specific weight on the number of children under six years, valued at 2.34 units per child. This approach prioritises equitable access to early childhood education by directing more funding to areas with higher numbers of pre-primary children, while national reforms for 2025/26 aim to further streamline and strengthen this system.
2. Education resources to institutions
Local governments own public pre-school education institutions and, as such, are responsible for the financing of education institutions (salaries of teachers, administrative and technical staff, learning materials, maintenance of buildings and utilities). The state budget is provided for the salaries of teachers providing compulsory pre-school education for 5- and 6-year-olds.
If a pre-primary institution has groups for children with special needs, the funding for teacher salaries comes from the state budget as an earmarked subsidy.
As of 2008, private pre-school education institutions providing compulsory education for 5 and 6-year-old children may receive state funds.
Regulation No. 488 provides extra funding for both private and public pre-schools for the education of Ukrainian refugees.
3. Education resources to students and families
In 2016, the local governments became responsible for providing financial support to parents whose children between the ages of 1.5 and 4 are not benefiting from public childcare in municipal ECEC institutions.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Family allowances are awarded to all families with children and paid until each child reaches 15-19 years of age, depending on whether they are still participating in general education. Handicapped children receive an additional allowance.
