Financing for equity in higher education

1. Education resources to subnational governments

Introduction

Key financing indicators (UIS Data)

There is no recent data regarding the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education for both sexes, the initial government funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita, or the initial household funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita.

Tuition-free status

Law No. 96/AN/00/4ème of 2000 stipulates that public education is free, but this only applies to basic education. No provision for free higher education has been identified.

Governance

The Minister of Higher Education and Research acts as supervisor and issues policy guidelines for public academic and research institutions. The Minister also establishes performance contracts with each institution, monitors their implementation, and demands accountability. Additionally, the finance department oversees the financial management of educational and research programmes under the Ministry of Higher Education and Research. Budget laws for universities' financial accounts are approved during cabinet meetings.

1. Education resources to subnational governments

Public budgets and subsidies for universities are centrally approved by the Cabinet.

2. Education resources to institutions

Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions

No funding for private universities when no public university is available has been identified.

Allocation and equity

The budget for public higher education institutions comprises their own resources and subsidies from the national budget. No allocation based on an equity mechanism has been identified.

3. Education resources to students

Admission for vulnerable groups

No specific admission criteria for vulnerable groups have been identified.

Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups

According to Law No. 162/AN/12/6ème L, the Ministry of Higher Education and Research is responsible for awarding, maintaining, or renewing all academic scholarships, whether nationally or internationally funded, through the National Scholarship Commission, which it chairs.

The identified scholarships are awarded to Djiboutian students studying abroad and/or for excellence scholarships.

As part of the social assistance provided to students at the University of Djibouti, an agreement was signed in 2012 between the State Secretariat for Social Affairs and the Ministry of Higher Education, renewed annually, to assist students in precarious situations through two programmes: a social assistance programme for students with special needs (ASEH) and an assistance programme for students from inland regions and Djibouti City (ASERI, ASEDV). Additionally, there is a programme dedicated to students with special needs to combat dropout rates in secondary education (EBS).

No loans programme for specific groups in higher education has been identified.