Overview of the General Education System

Mongolia's education system has experienced significant transformation in recent decades, following the nation’s transition from socialism in the early 1990s. This evolution represents a departure from a Soviet Union-influenced framework to a more contemporary and diverse educational model. The reforms aim to address the country's current educational and social needs, reflecting a commitment to modernizing the curriculum and expanding access to education for all citizens. These changes indicated the broader efforts to align Mongolia's education system with international standards and practices in order to foster a more adaptable and skilled workforce.

Education is governed by the Ministry of Education and Science (MES), the highest authority responsible for molding national education policy, designing and approving curricula, setting learning standards, publishing textbooks, overseeing teacher training, managing national examinations, and accrediting higher education institutions. The MES is organized into various departments focused on different educational levels, such as preschool, primary, secondary, and higher education. Local governments are also actively participating in administering education in their regions. They supervise local schools, manage resources, and appoint school leaders known as zakhiral (directors).

Currently, the structure of Mongolia’s education system consists of five main levels: pre-primary education for ages 2 to 5, primary education for Grades 1 to 5, lower secondary for Grades 6 to 9, upper secondary for Grades 10 to 12, and higher education. A significant transformation took place in 2019, when MES revised the entire curriculum for preschool through secondary education. This reform aimed to eliminate repetitive topics, improve the logical flow of learning from one grade to the next, and ensure that learning objectives matched up with modern educational theories and practices. These revised curricula were implemented nationwide in the 2019 to 2020 academic year.

Schools in Mongolia can be public, private, religious, or international, yet the majority are publicly funded and managed. The school year typically runs from September to June and includes breaks for national holidays such as the Lunar New Year (Tsagaan Sar). The official language of instruction is Mongolian, specifically the Khalkha dialect. However, in provinces with large ethnic minority populations, such as Bayan-Ölgii where many Kazakhs reside, schools may offer instruction in the native language alongside Mongolian. Additionally, the government has made increasing efforts to include children with disabilities and ethnic minority groups in mainstream education through specialized curricula and materials, often developed in cooperation with organizations like UNICEF.

As of 2023, the World Bank's collection of development indicators reported that school enrollment in secondary education reached 99.12%. Mongolia’s literacy rate for adults aged 15 and above who can read, write, and comprehend was 99.18% in 2020. The country's education system is characterized by a commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, and high quality, which aims to create a more equitable learning environment that meets the diverse needs of all students.

Compulsory education in Mongolia spans from Grade 1 to Grade 9, which generally covers children aged 6 to 15. Early childhood education (ECE) is widely available from age 2 to 5, but it is not mandatory. Access is improving, but it remains limited for herder communities, children with disabilities, and low-income families. In 2022, UNICEF reported that the National Statistical Office found that 20% of children aged 3 to 15 still lack access to early childhood education (ECE). The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2018 highlighted that the literacy and numeracy skills of young children were only at 67%. This figure falls below established international standards, indicating a significant area for improvement in early childhood education outcomes.

Primary education begins at age six and spans five grades. Students learn from one generalist teacher who teaches core subjects such as civics, mathematics, the Mongolian language, science focused on nature and the environment, and social studies. English is introduced by Grade 5. Lower secondary school covers Grades 6 to 9 and includes a broader curriculum with subject-specific instructors.

To progress from lower to upper secondary, students must pass the Basic National Examination and be assessed in four areas: the Mongolian language (including the traditional script) and literature, Mathematics, either history, science, or social studies, and language in either English or Russian. Upon completing upper secondary, students must take an exit exam to receive a Certificate of Complete Secondary Education.

Mongolia’s higher education sector is diverse and mainly governed by the MES through its Department of Higher Education. As of early 2022, there were 76 accredited institutions categorized as universities, institutes, and colleges. Universities offer bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral degrees and are research-focused. Other institutes focus on science fields and research, and colleges are primarily teaching institutions offering diplomas and bachelor’s degrees.

Admission to bachelor's programs requires a Certificate of Complete Secondary Education and passing the University Entrance Exam (UEE), which includes subject-based testing. The bachelor's degree usually spans four years (120 credits) and incorporates a liberal arts model. Master’s degrees require 1.5 to 2 years, a thesis, and an internship. Doctoral programs, entered after a master's degree, require at least three years of coursework and original research. A further qualification, the Doctor of Science, demands additional years beyond the PhD. Alternatively, vocational pathways are well-integrated, with options to progress from Technical Education Diplomas to bachelor’s degrees.