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 is three years old. UIS data on the number of years of free pre-primary education granted in legal frameworks is not available. However, the Ministry of Education currently provides free early childhood education (ECE) to all children. UIS data on the number of years of compulsory pre-primary education granted in legal frameworks is not available. The net enrolment rate for pre-primary for both sexes was 34% in 2024, per UIS data.
Governance
The Ministry of Education is responsible for pre-primary education policy, funding, and oversight in Fiji. The MoE allocates annual education budgets, sets standards for both public and registered private pre-primary centers, and monitors compliance and quality. ECE is administered by the MoE’s Primary and Secondary Section.
According to the 1966 Education Act, kindergartens cover children between the ages of 3 and 6 years, which includes the pre-primary year for children aged 5, before they enter into primary education. The 2025 National Pre-Primary Education Policy covers children aged 5 with the objective to prepare children for formal schooling. According to the policy, a minimum of 10% of the education budget should be dedicated to pre-primary education, in line with global standards.
Tuition-free status
The Ministry of Education currently provides free ECE to all children.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Fiji allocates public funds to pre-primary education primarily through direct budget transfers to registered Early Childhood Education (ECE) centers, which include both public and eligible private providers.
2. Education resources to institutions
Fiji’s primary funding mechanism for public primary and secondary schools is the Free Education Grant (FEG), which subsidizes tuition fees for Fijian citizens. Introduced in 2014 and expended to cover ECE since 2015 (for both stand-alone and attached centres), the FEG supports a range of needs, including administration, building maintenance, information technology, library services, textbooks, physical education, teaching and learning materials, and transportation assistance. Families remain responsible for certain costs, such as school lunches, uniforms, stationery, and any additional tuition fees.
According to the MOE Finance Manual, the allocation of FEG per student follows a differential resourcing model (DRM), introduced to address limitations in the previous enrolment-based system, which disproportionately benefited larger, wealthier urban schools and contributed to rural–urban disparities. The formula seeks to promote more equitable allocation by considering various "disadvantage indices" . The formula is structured as follows:
DF GRANT = Baseline ($2,000) + (School Roll × Disadvantage Index × Allocation per Student)
The Disadvantage Index considers factors such as distance from major towns or cities, accessibility by boat or road, increased costs of materials and transportation due to remoteness or difficult access, availability of public transport, telecommunication access, small or isolated island settings, socio-economic status, and access to amenities such as water, electricity, and medical facilities. Variations in the indices can also be applied across different divisions to capture local disadvantages, ensuring a more equitable distribution of resources.
According to the 2025 National Pre-Primary Education Policy, kindergartens and pre-primary schools shall also be eligible for the Special and Inclusive Education Grant, while an equitable formula shall make provisions for kindergartens and pre-primary schools in remote/rural/maritime areas to receive additional funding.
Private centers are recognized and registered with the Ministry of Education, but are autonomously organised and do not receive the FEG.
3. Education resources to students and families
Two primary initatives are available to support equitable access to pre-primary education, especially for children from low-income families. These include the Transport Assistance Scheme and the Back-to-School Support programme.
Introduced in 2024 to replace the Bus Fare Assistance Scheme, the Transport Assistance Scheme aims to reduce education costs for vulnerable students, particularly those attending remote schools. the Transport Assistance Scheme. Students from a combined household with an income of FJD 16,000 or less are eligible to recieve financial support for transportation.
Fiji’s Back-to-School Support programme, launched in 2023, provides FJD 200 per student to families with a gross annual income of FJD 50,000 or less, covering education-related expenses and helping reduce inequalities. Eligible students include those enrolled in Early Childhood Education through Year 13 at public or government-funded private schools. Applications are open for five to seven weeks from late October to early December, either online or via schools. Families receiving subsidised transport do not require income verification, while others must submit a Statutory Declaration. Payments are disbursed in mid-January to prepare families for the new school year.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Since 1990, the Care and Protection Allowance (C&P) has been the primary programme supporting vulnerable children enrolled in school, administered by the Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Protection. It provides financial support to families of children under 18 attending early childhood education, primary, or secondary school who face vulnerabilities, including single-parent households, the death of a primary earner, parental imprisonment, foster care, or institutional care. As of 2023, the allowance ranges from FJD 33 to FJD 146 depending on the child’s level of education, with an additional FJD 50 food allowance.
