Mongolia: Major victory for students as union leads effort to increase funds for school meals
As part of its Go Public! Fund Education campaign, the Federation of Mongolian Education and Science Unions (FMESU) advocated for and won a government increase in financing for school meals in early childhood education to boost student well-being.
Insufficient funds for the youngest students
Alarmed by the insufficient funding allocated to school meals in kindergartens, the Education International member organisation made school meals for the youngest students a part of its Go Public campaign plan.
The union led effort came in response to the cost of a daily meal for children in kindergartens which hadn't increased since 2019. (For kindergartens operating for 8-10 hours which was set at 2,475 tugriks (+/0.60 USD), while for children in special and rehabilitation kindergartens operating 24 hours a day, the meal cost was set at 3,600 tugriks (+/- 0.85 USD). The low funding led to severe consequences in terms of the nutritional value of the meals provided. Children were simply not receiving enough calories.
According to a study conducted in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) by the Ministry of Education, children's consumption of milk and dairy products is 3-4 times lower that recommended standards, calcium levels are 2.5 times lower, bone density is low, and 80% of children are deficient in vitamin D. These results demonstrate the imperative need to increase children's intake of calories and nutrients, as well as to ensure a nutritionally balanced diet.
Teachers campaign for nutritious school meals
Within the framework of the Go Public! Fund Education campaign, FMESU organised a series of activities to advocate for the government to increase funds for school meals in early childhood education. The union conducted workshops, press conferences, submitted appeals to the government, and met with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Finance to argue for increased funding. FMESU also launched an online campaign, collecting signatures and raising awareness among parents and other allies on this issue.
As a result of the campaign and the mobilisation at the national level, on May 29, 2024, the government increased the funds allocated to children's meals in kindergartens. The funds for a daily meal went from 2475 tugriks (+/- 0.60 USD) to 3000 tugriks (+/- 0.70 USD), and the funds for a daily meal in a 24-hour kindergarten grew from 3600 tugriks (+/- 0.85 USD) to 4100 tugriks (+/- 0.90 USD). The 280,000 children enrolled in early childhood education institutions will benefit from this increase.
In addition, the budget for school lunches and meals for children living in dormitories will be increased, with 221 billion tugrik earmarked in the 2025 state budget.
These measures will improve the quality and variety of meals, providing children with a healthy caloric and nutritional intake.
Go Public! Fund Education in Mongolia
Through the Go Public! Fund Education campaign, FMESU is mobilising and organising to address the major challenges facing the education sector in Mongolia. In addition to its advocacy for better school meals, the union is focusing its efforts on ending the teacher shortage, improving the inadequate educational infrastructure, and strengthening teachers` rights.
