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)
According to UIS data, the official entrance age to pre-primary education is 3. In 2023, the number of years of free pre-primary education granted in legal frameworks was 3. The UIS has no data for the number of years of compulsory pre-primary education granted in legal frameworks or the net enrolment rate for pre-primary for both sexes.
Governance
The Ministry of Social Affairs, Children and the Family (MASEF) is responsible for overseeing pre-primary education in kindergartens and maternelle schools. Within the Department of Childhood (Direction de Enfance), the Preschool Education Service (Service de l’Education Préscolaire) has specific responsibility for overseeing kindergartens.
Additionally, Mauritania has classes préparatoires, a year of preparation before primary. In public primary schools, these are under the supervision of the Ministry of Education and Education System Reform (MENRSE). In madrasas, this year is under the supervision of the Ministry for Islamic Affairs and Traditional Education (MAIEO).
Tuition-free status
Public pre-primary education in Mauritania is not tuition-free according to national laws and policies.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Education administration in Mauritania is relatively centralised. No evidence was found of resources disbursed to subnational governments for pre-primary education.
2. Education resources to institutions
As part of their National Education Sector Development Plan PNDSE III, the government has committed to a target of 25% of children aged 3-5 and 50% of children aged 5 receiving pre-primary education by 2030. According to the 2025 Review of Finances, in 2024, pre-school coverage was estimated at 13%. According to the IIEP 2024 report, the majority (59%) of provision is private, with 43% community based (often NGO supported) and 5% in the public sector.
MESAF funds are used to build and run some public pre-school institutions. According to a 2024 radio interview with the Minister, the Ministry has 52 kindergartens across the country. At the time, MASEF was in the process of building 9 model maternelle schools in the capital, 6 of which had been finished in 2024. In 2025, according to AMI, the distribution of educational materials to preschools in Assaba province was organised by the ministry.
Resources are also provided to the private sector. In 2021, to expand provision, funds for the construction of private kindergartens were launched. These amounted to MRU 140,000 each. According to the minister, in 2023, 14,000 “vulnerable” students were supported to attend private institutions with a grant of MRU 3000 each.
No data was found regarding the funding of preparatory classes at primary schools or madrasas.
3. Education resources to students and families
No evidence was found of the standard or traditional MENRSE or MAIEO providing aid for pre-primary education children.
MESAF, the Ministry for Children and Social Action, has welfare responsibilities for children and families. It provides cash transfers for children with special needs, in addition to paying pre-school education costs directly to the kindergarten. In 2024, the total MESAF budget was MRU 1.7 billion, 79% of which was from the state, 21% from development partners. No data was found on the proportion of funds directed to specific programmes. MESAF sometimes distributes school supplies through pre-school institutions, for example, in 2023 in Trarza.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
TAAZOUR (National Solidarity in the Fight Against Exclusion) is a General Delegation outside of the ministry structure, reporting to the president. Under the direction of the TAAZOUR, the TEKAVOUL (social protection) programme, recently subject to a 2024 decree, is a key measure in combatting poverty, vulnerability and social exclusion. According to Article 8, it is conditional on the registration of births, vaccination, feeding of children, school registration and schooling. According to the head of TAAZOUR in 2024, 140,297 vulnerable families, a total of 869,841 people, received a payment. Vulnerability is based on the social register (registre social), primarily taking into account regional and socio-economic factors.
The Commission for Food Security CSA coordinates food distribution programmes alongside TAAZOUR and the MENRSE. The CSA operates several programmes to improve nutrition across Mauritania. It distributes food and operates subsidised food boutiques to counter malnutrition; in 2021, 1754 such boutiques were in operation. It also helps coordinate school feeding programmes, which are based in canteens in schools. In 2026, the budget agreed between MENRSE, CSA and TAAZOUR allocated MRU 1.7 billion, which was spent on school meals for 114,000 pupils across 1123 schools, targeting vulnerable areas. No data was found as to the proportion of these at the pre-school level.
There is significant NGO involvement in welfare, particularly for refugees, from organisations such as the World Food Programme and the USDA.
