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 the Maldives, funding for basic education is managed through a centralised system. The central government, acting mainly through the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance, allocates annual budgetary resources directly to public schools across the islands. Funds are transferred from the central treasury to schools, with additional resources channelled for infrastructure, materials, and special education projects through targeted programmes and donor support. Local schools have limited autonomy, as essential budget decisions and allocations are coordinated at the national level by the Ministry of Education.
Education funding is based on a demographic projection model adapted from the Education Policy and Strategy Simulation (EPSSim) framework. This system estimates the resources needed for all education operations using population forecasts, enrolment trends, and pupil–teacher ratios, rather than relying solely on budgetary allocations. Staffing requirements, both teaching and non-teaching, are projected from these data, while costs are calculated by multiplying enrolment and staffing numbers with unit costs and past spending patterns. Recurrent costs and infrastructure investments are modelled separately, and higher education is treated distinctly due to its reliance on scholarships and student loans.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Local councils receive untied block grants from the Ministry of Finance and Planning under the 2010 Decentralization Act (amended 2019). These grants must total at least 5% of overall state revenue plus 40% of specified lease rents and are distributed through a formula that accounts for population, land area, remoteness (measured by distance to the atoll capital and to Malé), fiscal performance, and revenue mobilisation. The grants are intended for general administration and recurrent costs, with no specific earmarks for education. However, councils may allocate part of these funds to pre-school or early childhood care and education (ECCE) initiatives or community education programmes, while major school construction and other capital projects remain under central government management.
2. Education resources to schools
Atoll Education Development Project (AEDP)
The Maldives Atoll Education Development Project, supported by the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education, aims to strengthen teacher effectiveness and student learning, particularly in mathematics, science, and English, across nearly 100 schools, including those located in the outer atolls. The project also enhances the capacity for evidence-based decision-making and improves system-wide resilience, benefiting thousands of students and teachers, including those from vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.
3. Education resources to students and families
Education Subsidies
According to the 2020 Education Act and the 2019-2023 Education Sector Plan (ESP), the government provides free textbooks and stationery to students in the form of subsidies.
Free Bus Services
The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company offers free bus services for school children, supporting equitable access to education across islands and atolls.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Conditional Cash Transfer Programmes
Established under the 2014 Social Protection Act, conditional cash transfer programmes in the Maldives support single and foster parents raising children under 18. These programmes aim to safeguard children’s wellbeing and promote equal educational opportunities.
Single Parent Allowance Programme
Under the Single Parent Allowance Programme, eligible parents who are unmarried, have incomes below the poverty threshold, live in the Maldives, and care for their children receive MVR 1,000 per child each month, up to a maximum of MVR 10,000. Eligible children must be Maldivian citizens, meet national health and vaccination requirements, and attend school regularly. Exceptions are made in special circumstances, such as parental imprisonment, medical needs, or study-related separation.
Foster Parent Allowance Programme
The Foster Parent Allowance Programme provides MVR 1,000 per child under 18 and an additional MVR 500 for the guardian. Applicants must hold legal guardianship of children whose parents are deceased, incapacitated, imprisoned, or declared unfit due to neglect, be Maldivian citizens residing in the country, and meet the poverty threshold set by the National Social Protection Agency. Eligible foster children must also be Maldivian, vaccinated according to national health standards, attend school regularly, and not already receive a disability allowance.
5. School meal programmes
Breakfast Programme
Launched in 2019, the Breakfast Programme ensures that every student in government schools receives a nutritious morning meal. The initiative is universal, providing equal access to all students without targeting based on poverty levels or geographic location.
