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)
In the Philippines, the official entrance age to pre-primary education is five years old. One year of free pre-primary education is and is compulsory according to legal frameworks. In 2024, the net enrolment rate for pre-primary for both sexes was 76.48%.
Governance
Early childhood education programmes are divided into two levels:
Pre-Kindergarten- for 0-4 years old, overseen by the early childhood education care and development (ECCD) council. Kindergarten- compulsory, for all 5-year-olds, overseen by the Department of Education (DepEd).
The ECCD Council is a multi-sectoral and collaborative government agency which includes actors such as the Department of Education, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Health, and the National Nutrition Council. The ECCD council also manages Child Development Centres (CDCs), which cater to children 0-4 years old.
Private early childhood education is fully regulated by DepEd.
Tuition-free status
One year of free pre-primary education is and is compulsory according to legal frameworks.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Funding for kindergarten education is part of the national budget for public basic education schools under DepEd, as kindergarten is a part of public elementary (K-6) schools.
According to Republic Act 8980: Early Childhood Care and Development, ECCD programmes at the community level are financed through a combination of public and private funds. All public ECCD programme providers are expected to prioritise young children from families who are in the greatest need and who can least afford private sector programmes.
The ECCD Council receives a separate appropriation from the national government to oversee CDCs. ECCD programmes are financed through a cost-sharing arrangement between Local Government Units (LGUs) and National Government Agencies. LGUs receive the funds through the Municipal Development Fund or other such financing mechanisms as prescribed by the Department of Finance based on guidelines from the Department of Budget and Management. LGUs are also expected to subsidize ECCD programmes using their Special Education Fund, which is accrued from an additional assessed value on basic real property taxes.
Additional funding is sourced from both public and private financing, with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) mandated to contribute an amount of Philippine Pesos (PhP) 500 million per year for 5 years.
In 2025, Joint Circular No.2fg between the Department of Education and the Department of Budget and Management called for the construction of new CDCs. LGUs are to use funding from the Local Government Support Fund- Financial Assistance to LGUs. Low-income LGUs are to be prioritised for funding.
2. Education resources to institutions
Pre-primary institutions are funded primarily at the local level. Kindergartens and pre-primary classes within elementary schools benefit from targeted equity-focused funding through School-Based Management grants and the Last Mile Schools Programme, which prioritise early childhood care and education in disadvantaged and remote areas. These initiatives strengthen school self-assessment and improvement planning, provide technical support from education offices at different governance levels, and improve learning conditions by upgrading classrooms, providing electricity through solar power, and deploying trained teachers to ensure young children in isolated, low-income and indigenous communities have access to safe, standard and inclusive early learning environments.
3. Education resources to students and families
No information was found.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Programme (4Ps), launched in 2008 and institutionalised in 2019, is a Conditional Cash Transfer Programme run by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Beneficiaries are low-income families with children ages 0-18. Part of the conditions for the cash transfer is that households that participate must ensure that all children 3-18 years old must enrol in school or Child Development Centres (CDCs).
