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 2024 was 3 years old.
In that same year, the number of years of free pre-primary education granted in legal frameworks was 3. There is no information available regarding the number of years of compulsory pre-primary education granted in legal frameworks. For 2024, the net enrolment rate for pre-primary for both sexes was 85.29%%.
Governance
In Monaco, the Department of National Education, Youth and Sports, under the Department of Home Affairs, is responsible for implementing the Government’s policy on the organisation and administration of public pre-primary education, with school financing managed at the central level.
Tuition-free status
Public pre-primary education in Monaco is tuition-free according to national laws and policies for Monegasque nationals and residents, as per Article 27 of the Constitution entitling free primary and secondary education extended to nursery schools (from age 3), alongside Act no 1.334 of 2007 making schooling compulsory from age 6 with state-funded écoles maternelles.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Resources are directly distributed to educational establishments.
2. Education resources to institutions
Preschools exist in establishments alongside elementary schools and are considered as primary education (called 3rd, 4th and 5th grade). These institutions are accredited as “French establishments abroad”, where the head of the school prepares the budget and the Internal Board determines the allocation of the operating budget. Private educational establishments may apply for a contract of association with the State if they meet a recognised educational need and comply with requirements relating to institutional longevity, teacher qualifications, student enrolment, and the health and safety of premises. Once approved, these institutions may receive state financial aid, the level of which varies according to the number of enrolled students and the type of training offered.
Specialised provision exists for children with special needs through units and classes integrated within the education system. Since 2015, the Unités Localisées pour l'Inclusion Scolaire (ULIS) have been established at the pre-primary level (ULIS École), while additional options include Adaptation classes in primary education for pupils in 4th and 5th grades.
3. Education resources to students and families
Since 1994, Monaco has operated a scholarship programme offering financial assistance to students according to academic performance, family situation, and socio-economic criteria. The amount of support is determined by the costs associated with the student’s field of study, the location of the educational institution, and individual needs, taking into account household resources and employment status. Fixed reference amounts for travel, accommodation, and enrolment fees are set by the Government Council, which applies a percentage to establish the final grant.
Eligibility extends to Monegasque nationals, foreign nationals married to Monegasque citizens, students with a Monegasque parent, residents of Monaco or nearby French départements, as well as dependents or orphans of long-serving State or Commune employees and foreign students who have lived in Monaco for at least ten years. Scholarships may be awarded at different educational levels.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
The schooling bonus assists families in covering the cost of books and school supplies. It is paid annually for children attending school from the last grade of pre-primary to twelfth grade (aged 5 and over by 31 December). To qualify, households must have received family allowances from the compensation fund for at least one of the last four months of the year or for seven months in the calendar year. The allowance amount varies according to the child’s grade level and school location and is disbursed at the end of October.
Additionally, there is a back-to-school allowance available to households with one or more dependent children eligible for family allowances, provided that family allowances were received during July and the total family income does not exceed €1,232 for 2024. The amount varies according to the child’s age and is disbursed at the end of August.
Finally, there is an end-of-year bonus, granted to families who have received benefits from the Social Services Compensation Fund for at least four months during the calendar year, including the last three months, and whose family quotient does not exceed €1,232 for 2024. The amount is determined annually by the CCSS Committees and is fixed, regardless of the child’s age.
