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 in the Bahamas is three years old. There are two years of free pre-primary education granted in legal frameworks. In 2024, the net enrolment rate for pre-primary for both sexes was 31.18%
Governance
The Ministry of Education (MOE) is responsible for the education system, including pre-primary education. The Early Childhood Care Act established the Pre-school and Day-Care Centre Council. The council registers, regulates, and inspects pre-schools and daycares.
Tuition-free status
Pre-primary education is tuition-free, according to laws and policies.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
The Ministry of Education, Technical, and Vocational Training allocates resources to all government-maintained schools, including teacher salaries, learning materials, and operational costs. There are 13 school districts which report to the Director of Education. Funding is administered centrally and not distributed to subnational governments.
2. Education resources to institutions
Universal Pre-Primary Education Initiative
The government of The Bahamas has been working to expand the Universal Pre-Primary Education initiative to ensure that all 3- and 4-year-olds have access to quality preschool education. The Ministry of Education initially partnered with approved private preschools through a voucher programme, originally introduced in 2018, which made available 500-1,500 spots per year. The voucher is worth approximately BSD 2,000 per year- the cost is paid directly to the schools.
In addition, the government has set aside BSD 1 million for the development of preschools. These funds will go towards equity and loans to qualifying preschool institutions. The maximum grant is BSD 25,000 per school. Qualifying schools must be Bahamian-owned.
3. Education resources to students and families
Parents have access to the preschool vouchers, which allow them to attend private preschools in the country. From 2018 to 2022, the programme has distributed 6,200 vouchers and engaged with 128 private preschools. Vouchers are distributed to families who are unable to attend a government school due to space or age.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
The RISE Programme (Renewing, Inspiring, Sustaining, Empowering), launched in 2015, is a conditional cash transfer initiative targeting low-income households. Beneficiaries receive monthly cash grants to support daily living expenses, while additional payments are provided upon meeting specific conditions. Pregnant women must satisfy health criteria, and households with children must comply with educational and health requirements. The Ministry of Social Services and Community Development oversees programme implementation. Education criteria are developed collaboratively with the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology.
