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 in 2023 was 3. In 2022, the net enrolment rate for pre-primary for both sexes was 19.66%.
Governance
Oversight and financing of pre-primary education is the responsibility of the Ministry of Basic Education, which, as of 2024, has been renamed the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education. Public schools include reception and pre-primary classes. Reception classes are provided one year before entry into primary education, covering 4-5-year olds, with plans to expand this to two years.
The provision of pre-primary education is divided between the public and private sectors. In 2022, just over half of the provision of pre-primary education government-owned. The majority of this provision is through existing primary schools and they are often oversubscribed. Curriculum is governed by the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education; however, local by-laws often cover the operation of early childhood education centres.
Tuition-free status
One year of reception is free, though it is not specified in national policy or law.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Pre-primary education is mainly coordinated by district councils. The Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education allocates funding to subnational governments for the delivery of pre-primary and basic education. These transfers are determined based on available resources and identified needs during the national budget planning process.
The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has traditionally overseen the construction, maintenance, and operation of pre-primary and primary schools, utilising funding transferred from the central government through local authorities. While most education policy and major financial decisions remain centralised, regional and district offices manage a portion of the education budget, particularly for operational costs and non-teaching or support staff.
Currently, there does not appear to be a formal mechanism to consider equity when allocating funding to subnational governments. However, the 2015-20 Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan identifies the development of an equitable finance model as one of the Ministry’s priorities.
2. Education resources to institutions
Government providers of pre-primary education are funded by the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education. Under the 2001 Early Childhood Education and Care Policy, education providers are expected to liaise with the Ministry for help with any special needs. In 2022, a total of 259 children were registered with special needs in preschools. No evidence was found of specific funding mechanisms for special needs provision.
The OSEC programme was created with the assistance of UNICEF to encourage at-risk children to continue school. Part of this involves the provision of free preschool education in rural areas, for example, Mosokotso. It is under the responsibility of the "Special Education, Out-of-School Education and Training (OSET)" department.
3. Education resources to students and families
No information was found regarding resources given to students and families from the Ministry of Education.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Botswana has a school feeding programme administered by the Local Government and Traditional Affairs in partnership with the Ministry of Education that is universal at the primary school level. “Reception” classes are included in this programme.
Botswana has a Vulnerable Groups Feeding Scheme, administered by the Ministry of Health, to prevent child malnutrition. The scheme targets children from 16 months of age and operates through a voucher system. In practice, social workers also assist orphans and vulnerable children in accessing pre-school education where it is available.
