Pre-primary | Primary | Secondary

Pre-primary education

Pre-school education caters to children aged 3-6, laying the foundation for the shaping and developing of their personalities and preparing them for school.

Education in pre-school establishments bears the characteristics of family education, with the relation between the children and their teachers being that of maternal love. Children play as they learn and learn as they play. Pre-school education is not compulsory, and is offered by both the public and the private sectors.

In the public sector, pre-school education is provided by the following types of institutions:

• Crèches, kindergartens (for children under 36 months of age).
• Nursery schools (for children from 36 to 72 months of age).
• Pre-schools (for children from 36 to 72 months of age).

In the private sector, there are family child groups, nursery schools and classes, and pre-school establishments and classes.

Some advanced schools in all regions have made considerable progress in the quality of children’s care and education. However, in mountainous and remote areas there are still many difficulties and 40% to 50% of the children are malnourished. Because of poor physical facilities and the lack of qualified teachers, many schools can not fully carry out the pre-school education programme.

In 1997, the average number of children per class was 27.4 and the average teacher-children ratio was 1:23.7. Approximately 75% of 5-year-olds attend kindergarten. In 1998/99, the gross enrolment ratio of children in the age group 3-5 years was 40.1%. In the same year, 77% of 5-year-olds were enrolled in early childhood development programmes. These programmes extend over twenty-six weeks, or thirty-six class sessions. (MOET, 1999).