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)
The official entrance age to pre-primary education (UIS) is 4 years old. Pre-primary education is neither compulsory nor guaranteed to be free by legal frameworks (UIS). The net enrolment rate for pre-primary for both sexes (UIS) in 2024 was 26.83%.
Governance
Responsibility for pre-primary education in Egypt is split between multiple state institutions, depending on level (nursery v. kindergarten) and religious affiliation. The Ministry of Education and Technical Education (MoETE) provides kindergarten classes for 4-6-year-olds in state schools and oversees private kindergartens. The Ministry of Social Solidarity (MoSS) oversees the finances and administration of public and private nurseries for children ages 0-3, according to Child Law No. 12 of 1996/126 of 2008, (Article 49). In accordance with Ministerial Decree No. 335, MoETE provides technical supervision for kindergarten classrooms located within nurseries affiliated with MoSS. This supervision applies to nurseries licensed to operate kindergarten classes for the 4-6 age group. Article 42 establishes that all nursery finances are considered public funds.
Meanwhile, the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM), which is housed under the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), is responsible for coordinating all early childhood development activities across ministries. To finance these activities, the NCCM manages the Childhood and Motherhood Fund, which is financed from: 1) the national budget; 2) fines for transgressions against the law; 3) investment proceeds from the fund; and 4) donations and grants.
Government financing for public kindergartens and nurseries is sourced from the budget of the respective ministries and overseen by the MoF. The MoF prepares the general state budget and allocates a portion for education, according to priorities and public policy. The state budget must be approved by parliament under Article 124 of the Constitution (2014). Each ministry is responsible for drafting its own budget which is submitted to the MoF in accordance with the Unified Public Finance Law (2022). Al-Azhar Al-Sharif administers and oversees Islamic, Azhari kindergartens which are financed through the Al-Azhari budget (see above).
According to the World Bank, average per child government spending for kindergarten was EGP 3,641 in 2017.
Tuition-free status
Egyptian Constitution (2014, amended 2019) entitles every child to early education in childhood centres until the age of 6, however pre-primary education is neither compulsory nor guaranteed to be free by legal frameworks (UIS).
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Funding for state kindergartens is distributed to local governates along with basic education. The MoETE divides funds between governates through a per-capita allocation based on each governorate’s share of the national school-age population. According to Article 11 of Education Law 139/1981 and Local Administration Law 43/1979, governorates are responsible for managing schools under the ministry’s supervision. Governorates may also set up local education funds to support community initiatives, with the Minister of Education’s approval.
For nurseries, Child Law No. 12 of 1996/126 of 2008 states that a portion of profits from the central social services companies are to be directed toward governate-level funds that support early childhood institutions (Article 38). No equity considerations were identified.
2. Education resources to institutions
The NCCM’s Childhood and Motherhood Fund is used to establish schools at the pre-primary level. Additionally, the MoE ensures that each newly constructed school includes a kindergarten classroom.
In 2022, UNICEF granted USD 1,224,000 to the MoSS, NCMM, and MoHP to strengthen national capacity for early childhood education for vulnerable children. No information was found on how the ministries are allocating these funds.
3. Education resources to students and families
No information was found on financial transfers that support families to access pre-primary education. However, the MoETE regularly grants fee reductions and exemptions to certain groups. For example, in 2023, the Ministry granteda 50% discount at all levels (including kindergarten) for families receiving social security assistance, orphans, women-headed households, special education students, children of MoETE employees, and those attending schools in the Sinai Peninsula or girl-friendly schools, among others.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Launched in 2015 by MoSS, the Takaful programme offers poor families conditional cash transfers, which incentivise early childhood development through health and school attendance checks, including at the kindergarten level. Families receive EGP 60–100 per child monthly, depending on the education stage, if school attendance exceeds 80%. The programme uses multidimensional targeting, considering poverty, family makeup, gender, and location, especially in underserved areas like Upper Egypt.
The Decent Life Initiative (Haya Kareema) was established by presidential decree to develop the countryside and support vulnerable families in rural communities. Part of the programme is aimed at building and upgrading schools and nurseries. The initiative is a collaboration between civil society organisations and multiple ministries, including the MoETE, MoHESR, NCMM, Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade, Ministry of the Environment, and Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.
This profile was reviewed by Ms. Omnia Salah, Education Specialist at the Egyptian Ministry of Education and Technical Education; and Mohamed Elasmay Mahrouse Sallem, Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Education at Sohag University.
