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 is 3 years old. In 2024, the net enrolment rate for pre-primary (both sexes) was 25%.
Governance
In Sierra Leone, education budgets are managed at both central and local levels. At the central level, the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) oversees funds for pre-primary, primary and secondary schools, with the MBSSE receiving resources from the Ministry of Finance for administrative and operational costs. At the local level, 22 local councils manage basic education (pre-primary, primary and junior secondary), reporting to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
Pre-primary (3 years, starting at the age of 3) is considered part of basic education and is fully under the supervision of the MBSSE in accordance with the 2021 National Policy on Integrated Early Childhood Development.
The Ministry of Finance does not currently separate pre-primary from primary education.
Tuition-free status
According to the 2023 Basic and Senior Secondary Education Act, the government supports one year of free and compulsory pre-primary education at the age of 5 years.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
The delivery of basic education (including pre-primary) is a devolved function, with local councils allocating subventions to pre-primary, primary and lower secondary schools
The 2004 Local Government Act, updated in 2022, provides the framework for decentralisation in Sierra Leone, with the first transfers to local councils made in 2005. This includes the devolution of core education functions from the central government to local councils, along with the transfer of financial resources to support these functions.
Budgets for local councils are transferred based on the Ministry of Finance’s Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers and Allocations formula, which is reviewed annually and varies by sector. There are two main types of grants: direct grants (32%), used mainly for council administration (including salaries), and indirect grants (68%), which are paid directly to pre-primary, primary and secondary schools for free tuition, teaching materials, and textbooks.
In simple terms, the formula works as follows: 1. Each council receives a fixed lump sum, giving every council a basic allocation. 2. Councils receive additional funding proportional to the number of students enrolled in their schools compared with the national total. 3. Councils also receive funding based on the number of children aged 2–14 years in their area relative to the national population in that age group. These three components are weighted 40%, 35%, and 25%, respectively, and the sum of these three parts determines the council’s total entitlement from the direct education block grant.
In 2024, the education grant was recommended to be allocated to local councils with a small equity component as follows: lump sum (20%), total enrolment (45%), school-going age (30%), and children with special needs (5%). In 2022, the allocation was: lump sum (40%), total enrolment (35%), and population of school going-age (25%).
2. Education resources to institutions
School Fee Subsidies
Pre-primary, primary and secondary schools receive subsidies that are transferred directly from the central level into school bank accounts. These funds are primarily used for paying salaries and improving school infrastructure. In 2018, the government launched its national flagship programme, the Free Quality School Education (FQSE) Programme. This programme commits the government to abolishing school fees and providing schools with equivalent financing. Its aim is to ensure free quality education for all school-age children from pre-primary to secondary school, and to reduce the high rate of school dropouts caused by financial constraints faced by parents. The subsidies are intended for all students attending government and government-assisted schools. The total subsidy allocated to each school is determined by student enrolment numbers, as reported through the Annual School Census. Pre-primary education has been free for all students and formally part of the government education sector service delivery plans since 2018 with the inception of FQSE.
Although subsidies are not distributed according to equity criteria, schools are expected to spend the funds according to the 2021 Policy Guidelines on the Use of the School Subsidy. These guidelines state that all activities funded by the subsidy should contribute to at least one of the following objectives: access, equity, and completion (30 per cent); quality, relevance, and integrity (50 per cent); and system strengthening (20 per cent).
Under the objectives of equity and inclusiveness, subsidies may be used to make schools more accessible to learners with disabilities, including the provision of toilets, changing rooms, ramps, and affordable assistive devices. They may also fund interventions that improve inclusiveness, such as enabling pregnant girls to continue attending school.
The government finances the programme jointly with development partners to cover admission fees, tuition fees, and teaching and learning materials.
The 2021 National Policy on Integrated Early Childhood Development further aims to waive taxes on equipment and materials purchased for early childhood programmes for line Ministries, Department and Agencies and their partners, as well as provide incentives to private sector establishments that contribute above a certain minimum level, minimally defined levels of funding or in-kind support to early childhood programmes.
Special Needs Education
Pre-primary, primary and secondary schools that cater to students with special needs receive dedicated funding from the government. These schools have been supported through government grants to ensure that resources are available to provide education tailored to the requirements of learners with disabilities.
3. Education resources to students and families
The government does not run any bursary or subsidy programmes for pre-primary schools.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
At present, there are no social protection programmes specifically targeting school-aged children (including at the pre-primary level) with an education component.
