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Eurydice

EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
Early childhood and school education funding

Liechtenstein

3.Funding in education

3.1Early childhood and school education funding

Last update: 17 June 2022

The teachers are employed and paid by the state. On the stage of the primary schools the municipalities participate with 50% as responsible bodies towards the costs of employment; the teachers of the secondary schools are exclusively paid by the state. On the stage of the primary schools the municipalities also finance school infrastructure. The state contributes subsidies for investments in equipment and buildings.

On the stage of the secondary schools the state schools are completely financed by the state, i.e. financing not only includes current expenses, but also investments in buildings and equipment.

Fees within public state education

Education in state schools is free of charge, this is also true for the materials of children in compulsory education. At the upper secondary schools a small amount (as reasonable as possible) is asked from the parents for educational materials and school events (School Organisation Ordinance, Art. 17).

State subsidized private education

Subsidizing private schools is regulated by law. Private education is permitted by the Liechtensteiner constitution and is subsidized if it corresponds to the legal regulations of the state schools (e.g. length of schooling; learning objectives). There are three private schools in Liechtenstein at the moment that are subjected to the permission of the government and are under its supervision. The Ordinance on Grants to Private Schools regulates the state contributions per semester and per student.

Financial support for students and/or their families

The allocation of educational grants is stipulated by the Scholarship Law. The state allocates grants in the form of stipends (without repayment obligation) and interest-free loans (with repayment obligation). Basically all the residents of Liechtenstein are entitled to educational grants. The amount of the grant follows the principles of subsidiarity (subject to income and capital of the parents or guardians). By the age of 25 an educational grant in the form of a stipend or a free loan can be obtained (independently from the income of the legal guardians). This claim expires with the end of the education.

By the age of 32 no stipends but loans are exclusively given for educational purposes. Support goes to educational as well as professional initial and advanced education leading to a degree that is recognized by Liechtenstein, support is also given for recognized further education.

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