Pre-school education

Children can take part in pre-school education from birth until they start compulsory pre-primary education at the age of 6.

The main aim of pre-school education is to help a child satisfy inherent, cultural (including ethnic), social and cognitive needs by taking into account each child‘s individuality.

All pre-school education institutions prepare and implement their own pre-school education programmes in compliance with the criteria for the preschool education curriculum approved by the Minister of Education and Science.

Pre-school education can be provided by private, state or municipal kindergartens, school-kindergartens, schools or other institutions, as well as freelance educators or other education providers. Pre-school education in other languages can be acquired at institutions providing pre-school education programmes for ethnic minorities.

4 hours a day (20 hours a week) of pre-school education is funded from the national or municipal budget through the “pupil's voucher” allocation system. Parents only make a financial contribution to cover the cost of meals and learning materials, however municipalities can reduce the fees for families based on their social situation.