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)
Myanmar’s official entrance age to pre-primary education is three years old. Their net enrolment rate for pre-primary for both sexes, last measured in 2018, was 8.35%. Pre-primary education is not free.
Governance
The Ministry of Education manages and oversees public kindergarten education for five-year-old through school-based pre-schools. These facilities are typically attached to existing primary schools to ensure accessibility. Currently, 835 school-based preschools have been established and are actively operating within the basic education framework.
The Ministry of Social Welfare, Refugees and Resettlement (MSWRR) is responsible for public preschools for children ages 3-4. They are also responsible for establishing community-based early childhood centres in partnership with parents and community leaders.
The 2014 Early Childhood Care and Development Law authorized the establishment of a Central Supervisory Committee for ECCD. The committee consists of members of the MSWRR, the MOE, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Industry.
Under the KG+12 system, the new Kindergarten (KG) curriculum has been implemented with the aim of ensuring universal access to pre-primary education. This initiative is designed to provide equitable learning opportunities for all five-year-old, regardless of whether they have prior preschool experience. By doing so, it facilitates a smooth transition for young learners into their primary schooling years.
Tuition-free status
Pre-primary education is not free.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Funding for education is centralized; schools receive prescribed allocations with minimal discretionary flexibility. Ministry of Education receives funding for Pre-primary programs from the Government budget. The management of pre-primary education is split between two main ministries, which affects how funding is distributed. The Central Supervisory Committee coordinates these efforts.
2. Education resources to institutions
In 2014, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Refugees and Resettlement (MSWRR) spent most of its ECCD budget on a stipend given to self-reliant preschools that have met the minimum quality requirements. Approximately MMK 30,000 was provided per school head (or teacher-in-charge). An additional MMK 20,000 was supplied for one caregiver.
Pre-primary Programmes under the Ministry of Education receive funding directly from the central office. For the Ministry of Education, funding is part of the Department of Basic Education and all the School-Based Pre-Primary Schools receive relevant allocated fund based on the numbers of students.
3. Education resources to students and families
Parents are the main funding sources of community-based preschools. No financial support mechanisms for pre-primary education were found.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
No comprehensive social protection programme targeting vulnerable students and families has been reported since 2021. All students have equal access to schooling in the country.
This profile was reviewed by the Permanent Delegation of Myanmar to UNESCO.
