Ulaanbaatar, December 19, 2024 /MONTSAME/. A Working Group on Reviewing the Implementation of the General Education Law, reducing the shortage of teachers at all levels of school, enhancing teacher recognition, and improving the management of state-owned general education schools was convened on December 18, 2024. The Working Group was established by Order No. 144 of 2024 by the Chairman of the State Great Khural of Mongolia.

Vice Rector of the Mongolian National University of Education D. Soronzon presented on the enrollment of teacher education students at the University. The Vice Rector reported that the enrollment quota for the 2024-2025 academic year has been fulfilled at 86%. Specifically, for the University's regional branches, the quotas are as follows: the branch in Arkhangai aimed to have a target of 185 students but enrolled 149; the Teachers' College branch had a target of 350 but enrolled 393; and the branch in Bayan-Ulgii aimag had a target of 130, but only 44 students enrolled. He also provided information on the policies and actions being implemented to increase the number of students pursuing teacher training and to address the teacher shortage.

Member of Parliament and Chair of the Working Group Galbadrakh Janchiv presented the results of a study on the accessibility of general education schools and kindergartens. MP Galbadrakh highlighted.

"Nationwide, only 42 percent of general education school classrooms have a student group size of up to 30 students. Considering current economic conditions, classes with 35-39 students per group can be acceptable, while classes exceeding 40 students should be prohibited. The learning rights of children are being severely violated in such overcrowded classrooms. There are 20 classrooms with over 60 students, which is unacceptable. This issue must be addressed immediately through legislative action. Since 2015, the number of students in state-owned general education schools has increased by 43.7 percent, while the number of teachers has only increased by 23.3 percent. There is a shortage of 5,075 teachers nationwide. We need to increase the number of teachers and expand the enrollment in teacher training programs to address this shortage.”

The Working Group reviewed and approved a draft Action Plan for the first half of 2025. The plan outlines the Working Group's objectives to study the implementation of the General Education Law, reduce the shortage of teachis at all school levels, enhance teacher recognition, and improve the management of secondary schools. The group aims at submiting its findings, recommendations, and draft decisions to the Standing Committee on Education, Culture, Science, and Sports, as well as to the spring plenary session of the State Great Khural of Mongolia.