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)
There is no information regarding the official entrance age to pre-primary education. One year of free and compulsory pre-primary education is granted in legal frameworks. For 2023, the net enrolment rate for pre-primary for both sexes was 16.74%.
Governance
The Ministry of Social Action, Family, and Women's Promotion has historically overseen early childhood education, but in 2020, a transfer of all responsibilities for this subsystem to the Ministry of Education was made to concentrate the management of preschool education in a single body.
Tuition-free status
One year of free pre-primary education is granted in legal frameworks.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
The Ministry of Social Action, Family, and Women's Promotion has historically overseen early childhood education, but in 2020, a transfer of all responsibilities for this subsystem to the Ministry of Education was made to concentrate the management of preschool education in a single body.
2. Education resources to institutions
In 2018, the Ministry of Education, with UNICEF's support, implemented an alternative preschool model to increase access to early childhood education through the pilot project "Todos Unidos pela Primeira Infância" (TUPPI). This project assists rural communities with an integrated parenting programme that guides families in providing early stimulation, nutrition, water, and sanitation for children under five. To monitor community facilitators and ensure beneficiaries receive integrated early childhood development services, multisectoral teams from the education, health, social action, and justice sectors were established at the provincial level.
3. Education resources to students and families
Presidential Decree 37/21 establishes the National Policy of Social Action, and the Executive Decree 131/06regulates the National Directorate for School Social Action under the Ministry of Education, responsible for defining national school social action policies. These policies cover scholarships, boarding schools, school health and nutrition, libraries, extracurricular activities, sports, and school meals.
School Social Action aims to ensure access to general education and the participation of children and individuals in vulnerable situations.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Abono de familia (Family allowance)
According to Presidential Decree 8/11, the family allowance is a cash transfer designed to help cover the rising costs of raising children. It is available to children of workers and pensioners aged 3 to 14. The allowance follows the principle of positive differentiation, meaning those with lower salaries receive higher benefits. This is applied based on salary levels compared to the national minimum wage. To receive the allowance, children must be enrolled in school and progressing each year. Families can receive the allowance for up to five children. The National Institute of Social Security (INSS), under the Ministry of Public Administration, Work and Social Security, manages the programme.
This profile has been reviewed by Belmiro Gil Cabrito, Associated Professor.
