Access to early education and care institutions is granted for all the pupils from 0-6 years old based on the law. This type of education is not compulsory. Chreces 0-3 years old are not under the competence of Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth but under the competence of Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Pre-school education institutions are located all over the country. In some rural areas kindergartens are associated to school buildings. At local governance level assistance is offered in regard to access to pre-school education for children that cannot attend pre-school education. Public pre-school education is free of charge except cases where kindergartens are with lunch.
Free of charge transportation is secured for children that live over 2 km from their education institutions.
In principle the following categories are exepmted from food fees in public kindergartens: orphan children, children of families where the caretaker has the status of orphan; children with limited mental and physical abilities or with severe diseases based on medical legal reports; children from families whose caretaker is with limited abilities; children of families that receive economic aid.
These categories are defined more in details and are assisted with respective aid by local governance units.
Public kindergartens that do not offer lunch (i.e. operate for half a day ) are free of charge. Public kindergartens with lunch have a fee paid to respective institutions that goes in benefit of local governance units who are responsible for building, facilities and meals in respect to kindergartens. Private early childhood and care institutions offer their services with fees. Fees are variable and are decided by the institutions themselves.