Gradual extension of free compulsory pre-primary education

• The reform relates to the entry into force of a law providing for the gradual eight-month reduction of the entry age in free compulsory pre-primary education (from current entry age of four years and eight months to four years) starting in the academic year 2024-2025 until academic year 2032-2033, the gradual expansion of public kindergartens’ capacity, an aid scheme to subsidise in full the tuition fees of communal kindergartens for children at the entry age in free compulsory pre-primary education and an aid scheme which shall subsidise the tuition fees for children above 4 years old and under the entry age in compulsory pre-primary education and are enrolled in private kindergartens up to a maximum of 100% subject to a cap. The Recovery and Resilience Fund provides funding of EUR 12,2 million for the entire project.
• The amended law for the gradual eight-month reduction of the entry age was approved by the House of Representatives on March 21, 2024 and entered into force with its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic on March 26, 2024. Following the entry into force of the new law, public and communal kindergartens were instructed via the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth circulars for the enrolment of children aged 4y6m-4y8m in school year 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 for free compulsory pre-primary education. An aid scheme prepared by the Welfare Benefits Administration Service (WBAS) was also approved by the Council of Ministers on July 8, 2024 for the subsidization of fees in private kindergartens, for children aged below the compulsory age and above 4y.

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• Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth