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 2023, the official entrance age to pre-primary education was 4, and 3 years of free pre-primary education were granted in legal frameworks. No years of compulsory pre-primary education were granted in legal frameworks. The net enrolment rate for pre-primary for both sexes was 5.16%
Governance
The Ministry of National Education (Ministère de l’Éducation nationale, MEN) is responsible for basic education in Mali, including pre-primary. Pre-primary education is under the supervision of the department for preschool and special education (Direction nationale de l’Éducation préscolaire et spéciale) and generally provided through CDPEs (Centres for Development in Early Childhood).
Tuition-free status
Public pre-primary education in Mali is tuition-free for 3 years according to national laws and policies, as reported by UIS data on legal frameworks (2023), reflecting the full pre-primary cycle (petite, moyenne, grande sections, ages 3-6) guaranteed free under the 2006 Education Orientation Law (Loi n°06-033).
1. Education resources to subnational governments
According to the Director General of Education in 2024, 83% of educational funding was transferred to the local level, and 17% remained centralised. No data was found for decision-making regarding equity considerations in resource allocation.
2. Education resources to institutions
Public money is provided to CDPEs. According to the Ministry of Finance in 2020, XOF 847,828,000 was allocated to the preschool and special education department; the division between funding for preschool and special education was not enumerated. XOF 75,406,000 was allocated for providing appropriate materials to CDPEs.
CDPEs generally have a community-based service delivery model. Staff are often “mères éducatrices”, sometimes volunteers or on a small stipend.
No evidence was found of equity considerations being taken into account.
Public and private CDPEs sometimes benefit from NGO funding for their operations, for example, upgrading infrastructure.
3. Education resources to students and families
No financial support mechanisms were found from the Ministry of Education.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
The Jigisemejiri Social Nets programme provided cash transfers to vulnerable households. It was an unconditional transfer, accompanied by awareness raising activities such as promoting girls' schooling. A 2024 study by Sessou et al. found that it increased educational outcomes for girls aged 6-9 and 15-18. While the programme officially ended in 2024, the systems created formed the base for current social protection programmes in the Sahel. The project received significant donor support, and the ratio between this funding and the contribution from the government was not found.
This profile was reviewed by Étienne Fakaba Sissoko, Centre de recherche et d'Analyses Politiques, Economiques et Sociales du Mali, Université des Sciences Sociales et de Gestion de Bamako.
