Mongolia: Thousands of teachers and education support personnel rally to demand salary increase and adequate investment in the education
In Ulaanbaatar’s main square, thousands of teachers and education support personnel staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the Parliament building. Their core demand is to raise the basic salary of teachers to 3.5 million tugrik and allocate adequate funding for the education sector. Currently, teachers earn between 1.2 – 1.4 million tugriks, and education support personnel below 1 million tugriks, a figure many argue is insufficient amid rising living costs.
The demonstrations have drawn support from the public and prominent political figures, including a former president and current member of a Parliament, who joined the march in solidarity. Teachers and education support personnel shared testimonies underscoring the urgency:
“There is a real threat to education. Many qualified teachers are changing their profession and joining other highly paid sectors. The future of Mongolia’s education is at risk. We MUST act!” said a young teacher, capturing the deep concern shared across the profession.
On 24 September 2025, more than 10,000 teachers and education support personnel from Ulaanbaatar, Darkhan-Uul, and Tuv aimag took to the streets. More than 9,000 union members and teachers’ participated in the peaceful rallies in the central squaries of Arkhangai, Bayankhongor, Dornod, Orkhon, Uvurkhangai, Sukhbaatar, and Uvs aimag demanding government to deliver on its promises.
This mobilization coincides with the government’s deliberations of the 2026 national budget and informed by FMESU’s broader “ Go Public! Fund Education” campaign.
Beyond the capital, workplace sit-ins and press conferences were held in Bayan-Ulgii, Bulgan, Darkhan-Uul, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Zavkhan, Sukhbaatar, Tuv, Khovd, and Khentii aimags. Over 30,000 citizens and workers have signed a petition supporting the increase in the salaries and allocating adequate funding to the education sector. The petition also includes the signatures of more than 3,000 teachers has been sumibitted to Parliament and the Government.
Throughout the demonstrations, educators voiced a wide range of experiences—from financial instability and the struggle to afford basic living costs, to passionate appeals for greater government investment in education. Their testimonies reflected both the love they hold for their profession and the growing frustration with systemic neglect. Together, their voices formed a powerful call for immediate and meaningful change.
The Minister of Education, Mr. Naranbayar, addressed the crowd, acknowledging the demands and estimating an additional 100 billion tugriks would be needed. “We hear you”, he said. “We must work within the law and regulations.” His remarks, however, met with boos from those gathered in the square, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction.
Mongolia needs more funds for education
Mr Zambal, President of FMESU criticized the 2026 draft budget, stating that “Not even one tugrik has been added for education. There are discussions to cut 70 billion tugriks by the year end.” He confirmed that formal demands have been submitted to the President of the State Hural and the Minister of Education.”
The key demands are:
• Raise the teacher’s basic salary to 3,5 million tugriks
• Reduce teachers’ workload
• Improve working conditions across all education institutions
On 5 October, aligning with World Teacher’s Day, FMESU organized a peaceful sit-in at the main square in front of the Parliament building drawing 800 dedicated educators. This symbolic act reinforced the union’s commitment to defending teachers’ rights and strengthening public education.
FMESU urges the Government to take immediate and decisive action to fulfill its commitments and invest in the future of Mongolia’s students by standing firmly behind its educators. Together with CMTU, FMESU has made it clear: if concrete measures are not implemented without delay, they are prepared to escalate their actions and call a nationwide strike.
The sit-out is continuing: Боловсролын салбарын цалин хөлсийг нэмэгдүүлэхийг шаардсан багш нар Сүхбаатарын талбайд суулт хийж байна | Мөрч MN | Facebook
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