Financing for equity in higher education

1. Education resources to subnational governments

Introduction

Key financing indicators (UIS Data)

The only data available on UIS for Equatorial Guinea is the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education for both sexes in 2000, which was 1.84%.

Higher education is currently delivered exclusively in the National University of Equatorial Guinea (UNGE).

Tuition-free status

Higher education is not tuition-free in Equatorial Guinea.

Governance

The management of higher education is conducted by the General Directorate of Higher Education within the Ministry of Education and Science (MEC).

1. Education resources to subnational governments

Subnational Funding Mechanisms

Funds are delivered directly to the National University of Equatorial Guinea or to private centres. As such, there are no funding mechanisms from the national level to the subnational level. The National University of Equatorial Guinea (UNGE) is considered an autonomous entity and manages its own funds. It has multiple satellite locations with various programmes.

2. Education resources to institutions

Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions

The law authorises transfers from the public budget to private institutions by request. Private institutions must comply with approval, supervision, and control from the MEC. However, they remain autonomous in terms of curriculum, methodologies, and management systems. In 2016, CFAF 2,000 million was transferred to the Association of Catholic Education Centre of EQG, which integrates several private higher education centres. Private institutions may be labeled as public-utility.

Allocation and equity

As there is only one public university, there is no equitable funding mechanisms for public higher education institutions. However, the UNGE is one of the largest spending categories for the MEC outside of general education spending. Of the total capital amount for education, 64 per cent is devoted to new infrastructure in higher education. Much of this was spent on expanding the UNGE. No information was found regarding the transfer mechanism for private centres.

3. Education resources to students

Admission for vulnerable groups

The Horizonte 2020 Programa Mayor Educación Para Todos included equitable goals such as improving higher education completion rates for young women. No information was found regarding admission policies.

Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups

A 2017 report by the World Bank reported that government funds were spent on “scholarships and school incentives.” The amount spent increased from 2007-2015; however, further details could not be found.

According to the 2025 PEDS document, UNGE and vocational centres were responsible for designing and implementing a scholarship system (public and private) for high achieving and low-income students.