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PEO 5.f.3 — training educators for children from disadvantaged backgrounds (early education)

A competitive PEO call worth 26,275,200 euro from the ESF+ for universities with early education programmes and for Ministry of Education (MEC) structures, including the Teaching Staff Houses (Casele Corpului Didactic), that train educators for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Deadline: 29 October 2026, 16:00.

Who can apply
Public or private universities with bachelor's and/or master's programmes in specialisations of… can apply
Total budget
26,275,200 euro (ESF+), for less developed regions
Funding amount
The minimum and maximum value per project is set out in section 5.4 of the final guide, which is published only in the archive
Submission period
1 September 2026, 16:00 – 29 October 2026, 16:00

Checked against official sources on · funder: Managing Authority for the Education and Employment Programme · official source

25 days left until the deadline 58-day window

The call window is open. The time left until the deadline decides whether we can still build your application in time, so call today.

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PEO: €26.28 million for universities training early-years educators for disadvantaged children

Who can apply

Public or private universities with bachelor's and/or master's programmes in early childhood education and care (ECEC) specialisms, accredited or provisionally authorised, may apply, for example Primary and Pre-school Education Pedagogy or Early Education. Structures, agencies and bodies subordinated to or coordinated by the Ministry of Education and Research may also apply. Teacher Training Centres (Casele Corpului Didactic) are explicitly named as eligible applicants and partners. Companies are not among the eligible applicants.

What it covers

  • New modules, courses, subjects and educational resources, integrated into existing study programmes (Activity 1, mandatory)
  • Continuing training and professional conversion programmes for pre-university teaching staff, including school mediators
  • Modules focused on intercultural competences relevant to understanding Roma communities
  • Training for teaching and auxiliary staff in universities who are involved in preparing ECEC students
  • Training for pre-university staff who organise or coordinate students' teaching practice (Activity 2)
  • Grants for students who complete at least 50% of their teaching practice in disadvantaged areas, so that they can find jobs there more easily (Activity 3)
Full analysis PEO: €26.28 million for universities training early-years educators for disadvantaged children Conditions, steps and pitfalls, with official sources →

Apply in the current call window

  1. We analyse whether you qualify and under which programme exactly.
  2. We build the application: business plan, budget, supporting documents.
  3. We submit during the call window and follow the evaluation.
  4. We stay with you through the reimbursement file and final payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the deadline for submitting projects to the PEO call “Educators for children from disadvantaged backgrounds”?

Funding applications are submitted in MySMIS2021/MySMIS2021+ between 1 September 2026, 16:00, and 29 October 2026, 16:00. The call is competitive.

Who can apply?

Public or private universities with bachelor's or master's programmes in ECEC specialisms, accredited or provisionally authorised, may apply, for example Primary and Pre-school Education Pedagogy or Early Education. Structures, agencies and bodies subordinated to or coordinated by the Ministry of Education and Research may also apply. Teacher Training Centres (Casele Corpului Didactic) are explicitly named as eligible applicants and partners.

What is the budget of the call?

The total budget is 26,275,200 euro from the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), for less developed regions. The money comes from Priority 5 of PEO 2021-2027, action 5.f.3.

How long can a project last?

A project lasts at most 30 months and cannot extend beyond 31 December 2029. Implementation takes place during the 2027–2028 and 2028–2029 academic years.

What minimum target group figures must each project meet?

Each project must reach at least 60 students (indicator EECO09), cumulatively over the life of the project, for example from two successive cohorts. It must also reach at least 128 teaching and auxiliary staff (indicator EECO05). Persons with PFA (sole trader) status are not eligible.

How do you prove that an educational institution is in a disadvantaged environment?

A certificate issued by the ISJ/ISMB or by the competent UAT is attached to the funding application or to the collaboration agreement. You may also attach an extract from the SIIIR/INS database showing that the institution is in a rural or small urban area, or has a high educational or socio-economic risk.

How long does it take to prepare the application?

It depends on the complexity of the project and the documents you already have. The first step is the eligibility analysis, which tells you what needs to be prepared.

What happens if I do not qualify?

We tell you before any contract is signed, and if another suitable programme exists, we point you to it.

Next step

Apply in the current call window — PEO 5.f.3 — training educators for children from disadvantaged backgrounds (early education)

Fill in the form and we will tell you whether you qualify. If you do not qualify under this programme, we will tell you which other one you could apply for — or that there is none, if that is the case.

or call us directly on 0755 167 167

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