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 Qatar, the official entry age for pre-primary education is 3 years old. During 2001 and 2022, the net enrolment rate for pre-primary education rose from 25.66% to 47.21%, while data on the number of years of free and compulsory pre-primary education are not available.
Governance
The financing, allocation, and oversight of public pre-primary education are the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE). The Ministry is responsible for planning and administering public budgets for early childhood education Early Education Competences, which define the objectives, learning domains, and quality standards for pre-primary provision. Public funding supports the operation of government kindergartens, including teacher deployment and professional requirements, learning materials, child-appropriate learning environments, and the implementation of play-based, developmentally appropriate curricula.
Responsibility for the governance and oversight of pre-primary education is distributed across several units within MoEHE. The Department for Early Years Education oversees all public kindergartens, including curriculum implementation and institutional management. Private stand-alone and integrated kindergartens fall under the authority of the Department for Private Schools, which is responsible for licensing, regulatory oversight, and ensuring compliance with approved curricula; this oversight also extends to private schools enrolling children under the age of four where early childhood education forms part of the school’s recognised curriculum. In addition, the Evaluation Institute within MoEHE is responsible for quality assurance and evaluation across both public and private kindergartens, including implementation of the Qatar National Evaluation for Early Years Education.
Tuition-free status
A one year of public pre-primary education is provided free of charge.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Governance, financing, budgeting, and resource allocation for education are fully centralised and directly managed by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
2. Education resources to institutions
Government subsidies are allocated to public pre-primary institutions in Qatar, with explicit equity-targeted funding focused on children with disabilities and developmental delays, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE). At the pre-primary level, MoEHE operates specialised public kindergartens, including Al-Hidaya Special Needs Kindergarten in Al-Rayyan and Al-Hidaya School Special Needs Kindergarten in Doha, which serve boys and girls and are fully dedicated to early childhood special education. These kindergartens provide publicly funded early intervention and specialised learning environments for children under the age of six whose needs are identified through formal assessment and referral procedures. The subsidised support covers inclusive pre-primary services such as individualised educational programmes, adapted curricula, resource-room instruction, co-teaching by general and special education teachers, assistive technologies, and age-appropriate school environment adaptations. The core mission of these institutions is to ensure equitable access to early learning and developmental support at the pre-primary stage, to prepare children with disabilities for continued participation in education on an equal footing from the outset of schooling.
3. Education resources to students and families
Study Seats in Private Schools and Kindergartens
The Study Seats in Private Schools and Kindergartens programme is administered by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) as part of Qatar’s education access and equity framework. The scheme regulates and allocates a defined number of seats in licensed private schools and kindergartens. It includes fully free seats, discounted (reduced-fee) seats, free seats reserved for students with disabilities, and education voucher seats for Qatari students. Eligibility and allocation are determined through MoEHE oversight based on policy criteria such as Qatari nationality (for voucher seats), demonstrated financial need (for free or discounted seats), and certified disability status (for disability-inclusive free seats). The programme is designed to assist low-income households and to secure stable school placements that enable students to complete their education through to graduation.
Vouchers for Students with Disabilities
Qatar has expanded its educational voucher programme to support Qatari students with disabilities attending or seeking enrollment in private schools. Launched as part of the Ministry of Education’s inclusive education strategy, the initiative aims to reduce financial barriers and promote integration by providing direct financial support through vouchers. These vouchers are categorised into three levels based on the intensity of services needed, determined by comprehensive assessments at the Ministry’s evaluation centre. The voucher amounts range from QAR 43,000 to 78,000 (approximately $11,800 to $21,400 USD). The programme targets students with multiple disabilities, including hearing, physical, motor, and visual impairments, intellectual disabilities, related syndromes, and autism spectrum disorder. Parents apply via the Ministry’s online portal Maaref, where they schedule assessments and track applications, with responses provided within three working days. Families then choose from accredited private schools that offer the required specialized services. This programme, backed by Cabinet Decision No. 25 (December 2023), aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030 and expands financial resources to ensure inclusive, learner-centred education tailored to students’ needs.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
No evidence was found of social policies administered by other ministries that targets at improving access to pre-primary education.
