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 Mauritius, the Ministry of Education and Human Resources centrally manages and oversees education funding across all levels, from pre-primary to tertiary education. The central government allocates budgets, which are then distributed to state schools through regional directorates organised by geographical zones. The Ministry of Education is specifically financed through appropriations from the national budget, as determined and allocated by the Ministry of Finance based on the Public Sector Investment Programme. Subsequently, funds are transferred from the central government to the Ministry of Education which then manages and allocates funds across the various levels of education through a structured framework of policies and procedures intended to uphold transparency and accountability.
This centralised system ensures state schools receive government funding for operational costs, including teacher salaries, learning materials, free educational initiatives, special needs education, and infrastructure maintenance.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Mauritius is divided into 5 educational zones. Education programmes in primary and secondary schools are implemented at the “Zone” level, where zonal directorates serve as an interface between the Ministry of Education and Human Resources and educational institutions. No information was found on funding mechanisms that transfer resources from the central government to local authorities with consideration for equity.
2. Education resources to schools
Zones d’éducation prioritaire (Priority Education Zones Programme)
The Zones d’Éducation Prioritaire (ZEP) programme was launched in July 2003 targeting primary schools with consistently low pass rates below 40% in the Certificate of Primary Education examinations (end of primary cycle examination), reflecting the strong link between poor academic outcomes and socio-economic deprivation. The ZEP initiative channels additional resources, including dedicated funding, specialised support services, and socio-pedagogical interventions, to 27 primary schools on the main island and three in outer islands.
The ZEP project, which provides increased resources to disadvantaged schools, was launched in alignment with the Education for All (EFA) goals set out in the Dakar Framework for Action, with the objective of enhancing educational equity.
Grants-in-Aid to Special Education
Special schools run by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which support children with special educational needs receive grants from the Ministry of Education. The Legal Framework to fund non-public schools was established in 1957. This was administered from a social security trust fund. The funding moved to being the Ministry of Education responsibility in 2002. The funding expanded fourfold in 2005 as the Ministry began a new special needs strategy, outlined in a 2006 Policy and Strategy Document.
The Ministry also provides learning resources such as personal computers fitted with screen reader and screen magnifier software to all students with visual impairment thereby enabling them to engage more effectively with the curriculum. Primary and secondary school learners with visual impairment are also provided with Braille notes.
Foundation Programme in Literacy, Numeracy and Skills for Students Experiencing Academic Difficulties
The Foundation Programme in Literacy, Numeracy and Skills is implemented in secondary schools to support students who experience academic difficulties, with the goal of strengthening their self-confidence and self-worth through a more adaptable and student-centered learning environment.
3. Education resources to students and families
The School Materials Scheme provides items such as bags, uniforms, shoes, copybooks and stationery to children aged between 3 and 23 years as an incentive to attend school. The programme targets students from households registered in the Social Register (database of all potential beneficiaries of social programmes), with the amount of support varying according to the education level. The scheme has been supporting needy children with school materials since at least the 2015 academic year.
As announced in the 2024/25 budget, free sanitary towels began to be distributed to all girls from Grade 6 to Grade 13 starting from January 2025. The scheme aims to improve access to reproductive health products, support school retention, and encourage progression to higher education levels. Students in Grades 6 to 13 from households registered in the Social Register of Mauritius, including Rodrigues, also receive a monthly cash grant of MUR 100 under the scheme.
Scholarships to Children from Vulnerable Families
The Scholarships to Children from Vulnerable Families programme in 2025 includes an increased annual living allowance of MUR 100,000 for beneficiaries studying locally, providing greater financial support to help cover living costs. Additionally, holders of the HSC Professional Scholarship benefit from a full scholarship package, which includes both tuition and a living allowance. This initiative aims to support vulnerable students by reducing financial barriers to education and promoting equitable access, with funding and management overseen by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources.
The School Health Programme (SHP) for secondary schools, targeting around 30,000 students in Grades 7, 9 and 12, was launched on 21 January 2025. Implemented by the Ministry of Health and Wellness in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources, the programme aims to detect non-communicable diseases and their risk factors early, while promoting good health through education on nutrition, healthy lifestyles, personal hygiene and communicable diseases. The average transfer amount ranges from MUR 3,200 to MUR 6,000, depending on the education level.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
The child allowance is an income support payment for children aged 3 to 23 years who attend a registered school or educational institution. It is payable for up to three children per household and disbursed monthly on a two-month basis, amounting to MUR 2,500 per child per month, depending on school attendance. The Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) administers the payment on behalf of the government. Eligible parents must apply electronically to the MRA, which then transfers the allowance directly into the child’s bank account or a joint account with a parent or guardian. Once approved, parents do not need to reapply annually until 31 December 2025 or until eligibility ends.
According to the 2025/26 budget, the government aims to gradually phase out the child allowance over the next two years, except for household members who are beneficiaries under the Social Register of Mauritius.
The School Allowance of MUR 2,000 monthly for children aged 3 up to 10 years, introduced from 1st July 2024, is paid by the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA). Parents or guardians of eligible children must submit a one-time electronic application to the MRA, providing the child's bank account details (either solely in the child's name or jointly with a parent/guardian) for direct monthly payments. The School Allowance aims to support families with young children by providing financial aid to cover educational-related expenses. Similar to the child allowance, according to the 2025/26 budget, the government aims to gradually phase out this allowance over the next two years, except for household members who are beneficiaries under the Social Register of Mauritius.
Additional programmes supporting education include the Fortified Learning Environment National Programme by the National Social Inclusion Foundation (assisting vulnerable children experiencing educational and developmental challenges, particularly those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds), free optical glasses for students with visual impairments up to the age of 21 from eligible households, taxi fare refunds for students with disabilities travelling to school, and the school premium scheme. The school premium scheme provides a cash award to children from households registered under the Social Register who have successfully completed their Grade 9 level School Certificate or Higher School Certificate in order to encourage them to reach higher levels of education.
5. School meal programmes
The School Feeding Programme includes several initiatives aimed at improving nutrition and supporting learners across Mauritius. A pilot project currently provides meals to 42,000 learners through 55 kitchen centres located in primary schools, with food distributed to approximately 400 Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) centres. Additionally, the School Feeding Project targeting beneficiaries of the Social Register of Mauritius (SRM) in the Grand Port district was launched in 2018 on a pilot basis, benefiting 85 children from pre-primary and Grade 1.
The Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, has developed and regularly updated comprehensive guidelines governing the food served and sold in primary and secondary schools. These guidelines ensure compliance with national nutrition standards and incorporate evidence-based nutrition knowledge, aligning with the National Plan of Action for Nutrition (2009–2010) and its revisions. The plan emphasises the creation and ongoing refinement of food-based dietary guidelines to ensure school meals meet nutritional needs and promote healthy, balanced diets for children.
Furthermore, the Supplementary School Feeding Programme in Priority Education Zones (ZEP) schools, initiated in 2020, provides enhanced meals on a daily basis to students attending designated institutions, particularly those located in disadvantaged areas.
This profile has been reviewed by Dr Nazia Abdoula-Dhuny and Dr Randhir Roopchund, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Management at Université des Mascareignes.
