Ulaanbaatar
Parents and Guardians to Cover Kindergarten Meal Cost Increase
Politics
Ulaanbaatar, September 11, 2024 /MONTSAME/. The Government of Mongolia held its regular session on September 11, 2024, and decided to increase the cost of ingredients for kindergarten meals by MNT 1,000. For kindergartens operating 8-10 hours, the daily food cost will now be MNT 4,000, while for 24-hour kindergartens, it will be MNT 5,100. Parents and guardians are required to cover MNT 1,000 of this daily expense.
This resolution applies to the capital city of Ulaanbaatar and will affect over 135,000 children enrolled in 310 state and locally owned kindergartens. Parents and guardians will need to pay MNT 1,000 per day, amounting to MNT 22,000 per month and MNT 190,000 per year.
As a result, the government will cover 75 percent of the cost of ingredients for children's meals, while parents will cover 25 percent. For 50,440 children from targeted groups—including orphans, children with disabilities, and children from low-income households—the government will fully cover meal expenses.
The resolution will come into effect on October 1, 2024. To ensure its proper implementation, the Minister of Education of Mongolia, P. Naranbayar, the Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry of Mongolia, J. Enkhbayar, and the Minister of Health of Mongolia, T. Munkhsaikhan, have been instructed to monitor food ingredients, caloric content, nutrition levels, and the overall health and development of children. The Ministers are also tasked with taking further measures to improve food supply, quality, and accessibility.
