Netherland, UNICEF Scheme for Children’s Welfare

Written by Ch.Sumiyabazar
Tuesday, September 08, 2009

On September 4, with support of the Government of the Netherlands, UNICEF provided 20 gers, 50 sets of toys, 41 sets of furniture and training kits - a contribution of approximately Tg150 million - to be used for 21 soums of Bayan-Olgii, Khovd, Uvs, Dornod and Tov aimags, and nine ger kindergartens of Khan-Uul, Bayangol, Bayanzurkh, Sukhbaatar, Chingeltei, Nalaikh, Baganuur districts of Ulaanbaatar. The contribution is designed to enhance children’s learning environment. An additional, Tg13 million ensures that 20 furniture sets designed specifically for young children will be utilized in 20 dormitories.

According to UNICEF, 73.1 percent of 2-6 age children in Mongolia participated in preschool education over the last school year. “While most children attended kindergartens, a growing percentage (15.8 percent) benefited from “alternate” approaches to reaching and involving children in learning. These children were involved in mobile ger kindergartens, shift groups and in other innovative, non-traditional learning activities.” it stated.

The period from birth to six years is recognized as the most important period for human development and it also lays the foundation for future development of an individual and of communities. Studies confirm that if children in this age group receive adequate stimulation, education and encouragement, the ground is firmly laid for them to move more easily and successfully through the subsequent stages of education. There is also evidence they stay longer in school, are more likely to go onto university and will make a stronger economic contribution to their communities. The experience of previous years demonstrates that mobile ger kindergartens and mobile teacher services play the most important role in development of young children in remote rural areas and represent satisfactory alternatives to the formal education system. Since 2003, UNICEF Mongolia supported the establishment of 55 ger kindergartens and 40 school dormitories in remote settlements, providing preschool education to 2000-2500 children every year.

“Ensuring that all young children in all areas – urban, rural and remote have access to and can benefit from really stimulating and engaging learning spaces is a priority for the education sector”, said Yameen Mazumder, UNICEF Deputy Representative. “For this reason, in addition to the very practical contribution of materials that enhance the learning spaces, UNICEF is also supporting 40 teachers to move around communities and implement the “Curriculum for alternate forms of pre-school education”. Tg78 million is dedicated to improving teaching methods in Dornod, Khovd, Bayan-Olgii, Gobi-Altai, Tov and Uvs aimags, as well as in Chingeltei, Songinokhairkhan and Nalaikh districts of Ulaanbaatar”, continued UNICEF Deputy Representative.

The handing over ceremony of the gers, furniture and toys to kindergartens was attended by Ch. Kulanda, Deputy Minister of Education, Culture and Science of Mongolia, Yameen Mazumder, Deputy Representative, UNICEF Mongolia, directors and teachers of districts and aimags’ kindergartens and schools.

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