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 Belarus, the education system is centralised both financially and administratively. The Ministry of Education (MOE) is responsible for implementing national policies and overseeing quality control in the field of education and youth. Management is delegated through six regional Education Departments and the Education Department of the Minsk City administration, which supervise education institutions at the oblast (regional) level and in the city of Minsk. These departments, in turn, coordinate rayon (district) Education Departments, which are responsible for overseeing individual schools within their districts.
Since 2003, the Government adopted social standards for services, including minimum per student allocation in special education institutions for children with disabilities, in vocational schools, in out-of-school training institutions.
Additionally, recent amendments to the Education Code of the Republic of Belarus aim to enhance the efficiency, quality, andaccessibility of education while expanding state protection for vulnerable groups. Key changes relevant to equity include new authorizations for local authorities to provide free student transportation and preferential admission rights for children withdisabilities to specialized institutions.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
In Belarus, education is primarily financed through public funds, with allocations coming mainly from the republican (central) and local budgets. Local executive and administrative bodies are responsible for managing and executing school budgets within their regions, but their autonomy is constrained by oversight and standards established by the Ministry of Education.
To reduce regional disparities in fiscal capacity and ensure minimum levels of public services such as education, Belarus has implemented equalisation grants (vertical equalisation) since 1990. These grants transfer funds from the central government to local governments at the oblast, city, and rayon levels.
2. Education resources to schools
In recent years, Belarus has shifted from traditional line-item budgeting to a formula-based financing model for educational resource distribution. This change began with a pilot programme in 2015, supported by a World Bank grant, and was formalized in government regulations by 2021. Funding allocations are based on per-student expenditure norms (with geographical and type ofeducation component) set annually by the central government, which consider enrollment numbers and education levels. This is allocated from local education budgets to individual schools.
In addition to per-capita school funding (described above), Belarus applies location-based top-ups: annual government resolutions set a higher per-student norm for rural schools than for urban schools (e.g Preschool norms are also region-adjusted via coefficients.)
Alongside recurrent financing, a large investment programme (the WB supported Education Modernization Project, incl. 2019 additional financing loan) directs capital funds to rural and small-town schools for equipment and facility upgrades, prioritising underserved areas.
Recent official reporting notes republican-budget purchases (e.g., specialized transport) to ensure access for learners with disabilities, i.e., earmarked funds that help schools serve vulnerable groups (e.g. in 2023-2024 period 104 specialised school buses were purchased).
Together, these mechanisms channel additional public resources to schools in disadvantaged areas and those accommodating vulnerable learners.
3. Education resources to students and families
Free Provision of Textbooks and Learning Materials
Under the 2011 Education Code (Article 39), the use of textbooks and teaching aids may be paid or free. Free provision is granted to children in sanatorium boarding schools and special educational institutions, students with special educational needs, orphans and children without parental care, children with disabilities under eighteen, preschool children suffering from serious illnesses such as cancer or tuberculosis, students from families receiving state child allowances; it also covers learners where one parent/adoptive parent is disability group I or II and certain family members specified by law. Additionally, students from large families (those with three or more children) are eligible for a 50 percent reduction in fees for textbooks and teaching aids.
Free transport and preferential admission rights
Recent amendments (Dec 2024; in force mainly from 1 Sep 2025) expanded in-kind supports. In particular, local authorities are now authorized to arrange free transportation of students within populated areas not only to and from schools, but also to educational, cultural and sporting events, reducing indirect costs for families, especially in rural areas. The law also adds children with disabilities under 18 to the list of groups with preferential admission to sanatorium-type boarding schools, ensuring targeted access to institutions that combine education and specialized health services. These changes continue Belarus’ reliance on in-kind benefits (e.g., free/discounted textbooks under the Education Code) rather than direct cash transfers, focusing support on specific barriers to participation.
Tax relief for education expenses (personal income-tax deduction)
Belarusian taxpayers can claim a “social tax deduction” under Article 210 of the Tax Code for the cost of education, either their own studies or those of a close relative (such as a child, spouse, or sibling), if it is for a first higher, secondary-special, or vocational programme in Belarus. The deduction also applies to repayments of education loans, including both principal and interest, provided the payments are made to accredited domestic institutions and not reimbursed by the state or employer. This measure effectively reduces taxable income, lowering household education costs and encouraging private investment in human capital.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
School Subsidy (One-time “back-to-school” material assistance for large families; targeted social assistance for low-income families)
The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection provides direct financial assistance to low-income families and households with three or more children to help cover educational expenses, including clothing, footwear, and stationery for primary and secondary students. In certain cases, support is extended regardless of income, and additional provisions are made specifically for families with children with disabilities. For example, for 2024/2025 MoLSP/BelTA report one-time back-to-school payments to ~115k large families, covering ~240k pupils (30% of the subsistence minimum per child).
Chernobyl-area social programmes
Belarus’ multi-year Chernobyl programmes (current State Programme 2021–2025) allocate a majority share to social support, including benefits and free meals for children, health recuperation, etc., targeting affected districts where school participation costs can be higher.
Family Capital (large non-withdrawable grant for 3+ children) education-eligible use
The programme is a long-running capital grant (initially introduced by Presidential Decree No. 572 (2014), with ongoing updates) for families with three or more children. Rules explicitly allow using the capital to pay tuition (scope recently expanded to allow payment for the “next academic year”).
5. School meal programmes
Belarus introduced subsidised school meals in the late 1990s, initially focusing on regions affected by the Chernobyl disaster and later expanding nationwide as a social protection and children’s health measure. Contemporary policy statements frame school catering as part of a broader welfare approach to ensure children are properly fed and ready to learn.
Today, the programme is government-funded and widely free. Cash norms for food are set by the Council of Ministers and periodically uprated; parents who pay cover food only (cooking/overheads are publicly financed). For the current school year, the Ministry of Education specifies free meals for all pupils in grades 1–4, free meals for grades 5–11 in rural schools, and additionaleligibility for defined categories (e.g., low-income and large families, children with disabilities, sports classes).
Menu quality and nutrition are centrally guided. The Ministry of Education issues methodological guidance and standardized technological cards/menus (list of approved recipes) developed with input from pupils and parents; audits have removed sugary sodas and crisps from school cafeterias. Health oversight comes via the National Centre for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health and Sanitary norms under the Health Ministry, ensuring menus meet hygiene and nutrition requirements while reflecting children’s preferences.
This profile was reviewed by Ms. Hannah Siarova.
