Broken Chalk has drafted this report as a stakeholder contribution to the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) for Mongolia. As Broken Chalk’s focus is on combating human rights violations within the educational sphere, the contents of this report and the following recommendations will primarily focus on the Right to Education.
The Mongolian school system consists of a 12-year structure, including primary, secondary and tertiary (higher) education. Primary school, mandatory for all children, begins at the age of 6 and consists of grades 1 through 5. Secondary education is divided into lower secondary and upper secondary education: the first, covering grades 6 through 9, is mandatory, whereas upper secondary education is optional. The latter spans from grades 10 to 12 and prepares students for higher education, while also including a vocational track. i
Enrolment rates in primary schools in Mongolia stand at 97%. Additionally, access to early childhood care and education (ECCE services) for children aged 3 to 5 stands at 83%, demonstrating Mongolia’s commitment to prioritizing education. Nevertheless, the number of students decreases in upper secondary schools, with 5.1% of girls and 13.4% of boys reportedly dropping out. This reveals a concerning disparity between genders, indicating broader socioeconomic issues or a lack of vocational education. ii
In recent years, Mongolia has made significant progress in raising enrolment rates and digitalizing education systems. However, due to the pandemic and a lack of infrastructure, many children remain vulnerable. The PISA 2022 results demonstrate a significant lack of reading skills and provide insight into the challenges affecting primary education. Most importantly, one in three children in Mongolia lack the necessary reading and math skills, while youths often lack access to extracurricular activities. iii
In 2024, Mongolia continued to work on digitalization and teacher training in collaboration with UNICEF and the GIGA initiative. The government has pursued additional grants and scholarships to students enrolled in higher education, aiming to make universities and vocational training institutions more accessible. iv v
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i “Education.” n.d. UNICEF Mongolia. UNICEF. Accessed November 28, 2024. https://www.unicef.org/mongolia/education#:~:text=Enrollment%20rate%20in%20school%20is,been%20worsened%20by%20COVID%2D19.
ii Kouassi-Komlan, Evariste. 2024. “Time to Revamp Education: Mongolia’s Path to a Brighter Future.” UNICEF Mongolia. UNICEF Mongolia. Accessed November 28, 2024. https://www.unicef.org/mongolia/stories/time-revamp-education-mongolias-path-brighter-future.
iii Ibid.
iv “Q&A with the Minister of Education of Mongolia on the evolving right to education.” 2023. UNESCO. UNESCO. Accessed November 28, 2024. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/qa-minister-education-mongolia-evolving-right-education.
v “Giga Expands its Reach to 30 Countries.” 2023. November 9, 2023. https://giga.global/gigax30/.
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