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 the Central African Republic, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MPSE) is the principal governmental authority responsible for financing, allocating, and overseeing educational budgets. The Ministry coordinates education sector projects and manages budget execution across pre-primary, primary, and secondary levels, retaining primary responsibility for basic education despite the involvement of other ministries, such as the Ministries of Technical Education and Literacy, Higher Education, and Scientific Research and Technological Innovation.
Under decentralisation policies, decision-making—including financial management—has been partially delegated to administrative regions and prefectures. This approach aims to enhance local responsiveness and efficiency while the MPSE maintains overarching oversight and coordination to ensure alignment with national education priorities.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Local authorities are responsible for managing school budgets and may request additional funding from the central government. The formula for distributing resources to local governments remains unclear, and there is no evidence of an established equity mechanism to ensure fair allocation.
2. Education resources to schools
Special Needs Education and Equity
The 2020-2029 Education Sector Plan (PES) promotes a strategic framework to improve access to education for children with special needs. Key initiatives include communication and awareness campaigns targeting parents, upgrading school infrastructure, professional development for teachers in inclusive education, and the provision of alternative educational options for children who cannot be accommodated in mainstream settings. Despite these initiatives, the plan does not specify measures for equitable resource allocation to schools.
3. Education resources to students and families
School Kits Initiative
The 2020-2029 Education Sector Plan (PES) includes the distribution of school kits and “dignity” kits as an ongoing initiative, with plans for expansion. These kits are intended to promote a sanitary learning environment and improve educational access, particularly for female students.
Currently, no further details are available regarding the implementation, funding, or scope of this initiative.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Conditional cash transfers with an educational component are primarily delivered through humanitarian programmes. However, no government-operated programme fully funded and administered by the state has been identified.
5. School meal programmes
School feeding programmes are currently administered by the World Food Programme. The government maintains a School Canteen Management Unit and, in 2024, plans to transform this unit into a National School Feeding Department within the Ministry of Education, with regional branches to strengthen oversight and coordination. A multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder Steering Committee will also be established to supervise these efforts. To date, however, no fully government-funded school feeding initiative has been identified.
In 2023, approximately 125,000 schoolchildren benefited from nutritious school meals, and for the 2023–2024 school year, WFP and the Ministry of National Education are expanding school-feeding programmes while training canteen staff. Supported by France, WFP will enhance food systems in Lim Pendé prefecture by promoting school gardens, encouraging the use of locally produced ingredients in meals, and providing training on healthy cooking practices to ensure schoolchildren receive safe and nutritious food.
