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 Madagascar, the Ministry of National Education is responsible for allocating and overseeing education budgets for all levels of basic education. Transfers of public funds flow from the central level primarily through three mechanisms: direct payments of regular wages to teaching staff (mainly administered at the national level and disbursed to the six ex-provinces and central offices), school operating grants (caisse-école) sent to public primary and secondary schools, and subsidies to cover community teacher salaries. The Ministry decides annual allocations and supervises budget execution, while regional directorates and decentralised agencies help facilitate fund distribution and monitor compliance.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
The Ministry of National Education is represented regionally by 22 Regional Directorates (DRENs), at the district level by 114 School Districts (CISCOs), and at the subdistrict level by 1,769 Subdistricts (ZAPs). The budget is allocated to the DRENs as subsidies, and the DRENs are responsible for managing payments to the school districts (CISCOs) within their regions.
No information was found on whether a funding mechanism exists to transfer funds from the central government to local authorities with consideration for equity.
2. Education resources to schools
Public schools, particularly primary schools, receive funding transfers from the regional directorates and are responsible for managing expenses within the allocated budgets.
Cours de remédiation au niveau (Level Remediation Courses)
The Cours de Remédiation au Niveau (CRAN), supported by UNICEF since around 2015, is a summer remedial programme designed to help students who have interrupted their schooling catch up and reintegrate into the regular education system. It addresses learning gaps caused by school closures and socio-political instability, contributing to normalising students’ educational progress and reducing dropout rates. CRAN complements UNICEF’s broader emergency education efforts, including school rehabilitation, psychosocial support, and cash transfers to families to ease financial barriers. The programme is coordinated by the Madagascan government but relies heavily on funding from international donors such as UNICEF and the World Bank, with limited domestic financial support. The budget was transferred to the regional directorates with the assistance of UNICEF’s regional technical assistants (ATR).
The Extra School Action for Malagasy Adolescents (ASAMA) began in 2002 as part of the 2001 joint programme between UNDP and the Malagasy Ministry of Education and Scientific Research, titled “Supporting the Promotion of Education for All.” Its goal was to improve access to basic education for poor adolescent students, particularly girls. While the government contributed funding, the initiative originated from a platform of associations.
3. Education resources to students and families
The government introduced the provision of school kits for public primary school pupils in January 2015, reaching 1.8 million children in its first year. While the 2018–2022 Education Sector Plan recommended suspending the programme until 2022, it called for maintaining support for the most disadvantaged pupils, particularly the 50% of children in grades 1 and 2 identified as most in need. The plan also recommended phasing out all subsidies to the private sector. Since 2022, subsidies have been extended to pupils in grades 2 and 3 in public schools.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Allocation de bourses familiales (Family Grants)
In 2015, the Ministry of Education introduced “family grants” to support the education of the poorest children. Families identified as the most disadvantaged receive these grants, which aim to promote educational access for children from low-income households. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Development Intervention Fund (FID), the National Nutrition Office, the Ministry of National Education, the Ministry of Public Health, and the Ministry of Population. This public social protection policy, addressing education, health, and nutrition, was supported by the World Bank.
The Madagascar Social Safety Net Project (SSNP), which ran from 2015 to 2024, was funded by the World Bank’s Fund for the Poorest (IDA) and implemented by the government of Madagascar. It comprised two safety net programmes. The first, the Human Development Conditional Cash Transfer (HDCT) programme, provided cash transfers to households with children aged 0–12, aiming to improve primary school attendance and promote early childhood development and nutrition. In August 2023, the Safety Nets and Resilience Project became effective, expanding support to cover more extremely poor households.
5. School meal programmes
Programme d’alimentation scolaire (School Feeding Programme)
The School Feeding Programme, implemented by the Ministry of National Education in partnership with the WFP, began in 2005 and operated in 937 schools during the 2022–2023 school year. Schools are selected based on criteria including low academic performance, a minimum of 100 students, adequate canteen facilities, a functioning local management committee, mobile money network coverage, access to a local market and water point, vehicle accessibility, and location within a food insecurity zone. The government manages a Cash Transfer Model – School Canteen Supported by the Government programme, which accounted for 26% of beneficiaries in 2019, while 59% benefited from a government-managed programme supported by the WFP.
This profile was reviewed by Zafinjaka Ratovoherinavalona, Research Professor and Education Economist at EDSHS – Université d’Antananarivo.
