Nearly 800 delegates from every corner of Mongolia participated in the VIIth Mongolian Teachers’ Congress, where the Prime Minister informed participants of the increase of the national budget allocated to the public education sector and teachers’ continuous professional development.
The VIIth Mongolian Teachers' Congress was held under the auspices of Prime Minister of Mongolia Ukhnaa Khurelsukh from 11-12 April in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, under the theme ‘Good Teachers – A Bright Future’.
Opening the Congress, Khurelsukh stated that “I am very happy to share the good news that Mongolia’s allocation of domestic education budget to pre-primary education is among the highest rates in the world,” he stressed. “Furthermore, the Government started implementing in 2018 a policy planning for the progressive increase of teacher salaries, and we will work towards ensuring social guarantees for teachers and other workers in the education sector. Some 20 percent of state budget will be spent in the education sector, building 138 schools and 207 kindergartens in 2019 and 2020.”
Khurelsukh went on informing participants that a teacher development programme will be adopted and implemented.
Participants discussed the implementation of amendments made to education laws, and ways to resolve pressing issues teachers are confronted with including provision of adequate teaching and learning materials, adopting the national curriculum, improving teachers professional development opportunities and professional status.
The Congress also adopted resolutions that were handed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Yo. Baatarbileg. Among the main recommendations were: a) to set the dates of the VIII Mongolian Teachers Congress and start the preparations in a timely manner; b) encourage teachers, educators, and staff at all levels of educational institutions to promote and implement the decisions submitted to the Minister of Education, Culture, Science and Sports; and c) request the Prime Minister of Mongolia to develop and enforce the program of "Being a Mongolian in the 21st century."
Facts and figures
The first Mongolian teachers’ Congress was held in 1935, and the most recent took place in 1996.
Mongolia counts over 47,800 teachers working in the public education sector, and the average monthly salary of Mongolian teachers in public schools is of around 240 US dollars. Also, 14 to 16 percent of Mongolia’s gross domestic product currently goes to education.