Hoshoryu withdraws from summer tournament after Day 1 www.news.mn

Yokozuna Hoshoryu pulled out Monday from the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament after injuring his right hamstring in his opening bout the previous day. The 26-year-old grand champion limped from the ring and was carried in a wheelchair following his Day 1 loss to komusubi Takayasu at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan arena. Hoshoryu’s stablemaster said the Mongolian-born grappler had no option to remain in the tournament after being unable to walk later Sunday night.

“It seems like something snapped,” said stablemaster Tatsunami, formerly komusubi Asahiyutaka. “He had been in good shape and perhaps let his guard down. We are very sorry to all the fans.”

Hoshoryu’s withdrawal leaves just two of the five wrestlers currently occupying sumo’s top two ranks — ozeki Kirishima and Kotozakura — still competing in the 15-day meet.

Yokozuna Onosato is out of action with a nagging rotator cuff injury, while ozeki Aonishiki damaged his ankle while preparing for the tournament. Both announced their absence on Friday.

Hoshoryu, the nephew of Mongolian great Asashoryu, has withdrawn from a tournament for the eighth time in his career and the third time since his promotion to sumo’s highest rank in March last year. The two-time Emperor’s Cup winner has yet to lift the trophy as a yokozuna.

KYODO NEWS

Cabinet approves 7 strategic decisions to liberalize energy sector www.gogo.mn

Following its latest session, the Cabinet has announced seven key initiatives aimed at liberalizing the national energy sector and ensuring long-term stability. 

Timely completion of Selenge power plant: The 70 MW thermal power plant currently under construction in Selenge province via private investment will be prioritized to ensure it begins operations on schedule.

Acceleration of "Zes Oyu" Substation: Construction of the "Zes Oyu" (Copper Oyu) power transmission substation will be expedited to improve regional grid connectivity.

Emergency battery storage deployment: To mitigate the risk of power outages during peak demand hours, the government will fast-track the installation of advanced battery energy storage systems.

Domestic solar expansion: National companies will lead the construction and immediate commissioning of new solar power plants across five provinces to diversify the energy mix.

Efficiency-driven cost reductions: The Cabinet has mandated a 3% reduction in electricity and heat transmission and distribution costs, to be achieved through operational efficiencies in the short term.

Smart energy monitoring: A user-centered digital system will be launched, allowing citizens to monitor their real-time energy consumption directly via mobile devices.

Nationwide heat metering: A comprehensive project to install heat meters at every stage of the distribution network is scheduled for full implementation by the third quarter of 2026. 

Roundtable Recap | British Business Centre Ulaanbaatar “Frontier AI for Strategic Problem-Solving” — a working session, not a lecture www.britishbusinesscentre.com

Yesterday, (10 May 2026) at the British Business Centre: a roundtable working session on applying frontier AI to real strategic problems. 
The highlight — 
A live agentic AI demo on Perplexity, 
Showing how it combines real-time web research with multi-step reasoning in a single query. 
Ts.Tsend moderated and demonstrated throughout: 16 years in Mongolian and international mining and finance, with senior leadership in the international investment banking system (🏦BNP Paribas)
Next session: June 2026. Seats limited.
British Business Centre 976 77552002, 976 99066062

Government, Rio Tinto Agree to Resolve Unpaid Water Pollution Fees www.montsame.mn

Oyu Tolgoi LLC still has outstanding payments related to water use and water pollution fees, including MNT 4.8 billion required under an official directive issued by the National Audit Office following a claim by the General Department of Taxation, MNT 1.5 billion assessed by the Water Agency of Mongolia as of the first quarter of this year, as well as unpaid water pollution fees for 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

In response, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sandag-Ochir Tsend met on May 8, with Amarjargal Khenchbish, Country Director of Rio Tinto in Mongolia, and Munkhsukh Sukhbaatar, Chief Executive Officer of Oyu Tolgoi LLC, to discuss the settlement of the unpaid water pollution charges, improvement of land rehabilitation efforts, and cooperation in supporting the upcoming COP17 conference.

According to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the parties discussed the outstanding issues and agreed to resolve them.

Minister Sandag-Ochir stated that the ministry supports socially responsible mining operations that comply with Mongolia’s Constitution and environmental legislation and apply environmentally friendly technologies. He noted that cooperation between the public and private sectors depends heavily on mutual understanding and emphasized the importance of complying with relevant laws and regulations. In this regard, he welcomed efforts to resolve the payment of outstanding water use and pollution fees.

The ministry also noted that participation in COP17 would provide private sector companies with opportunities to access blended financing, establish partnerships with international organizations and investors, and gain international experience.

More than 190 UN member states have expressed interest in participating in the conference. Officials emphasized that Rio Tinto and Oyu Tolgoi LLC, as operators of major mining projects, should support and cooperate with the event while setting an example for other companies in the sector.

Mongolia Ranks 3rd Among 110 Countries Worldwide in Contribution to the Mining Industry www.open.kg

The Mining Contribution Index (MCI), published by the International Council on Mining and Metals, assesses the impact of the mining sector on the economies of countries. In the latest, seventh edition of the report, released in 2025 based on data from 2022, countries are ranked according to their dependence on this sector.

Mongolia ranked third among 110 countries, scoring 92.7 points. In this ranking, it was surpassed only by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (97.0) and Mali (94.2).

Key Indicators for Mongolia

The main parameters influencing the index include:

 Export share (2022) 91.1%
 Change in exports (2017–2022) +6.19 percentage points
 GDP share (2022) 28.64%

Mongolia’s history of dialogue and diplomacy is a strong foundation for the future www.ohchr.org

Delivered by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk
At Event with National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia
Location Ulaanbaatar

Sain bain uu?

It’s a pleasure to be together with you here today, and I thank the National Human Rights Commission for hosting us.

I want to pay tribute to the wonderful hospitality and beauty of Mongolia. The ancient traditions of the steppe and the modern facilities of the city make your country a place of unique contrasts. I look forward to learning more about Mongolia over the next two days.

I am here in Ulaanbaatar to stand in solidarity with Mongolians at a time of deep global challenges. For decades, Mongolia has been a beacon of peaceful dialogue, dealing with big geopolitical players skilfully and successfully. As an Austrian, I know something about living in a landlocked country with big neighbours.

Mongolia’s history is international. Your influence stretches from the Pacific to the North Atlantic. And in modern times, you are a very strong supporter of global cooperation and multilateral solutions, promoting peace and confidence-building across this region. 

When I heard that Mongolians see the international community as your “third neighbour”, it made perfect sense.

Mongolians have an ear to the world.

You have helped bring stability to war-torn countries far away for decades, through your contributions to UN peacekeeping.

Your status as a nuclear-weapons-free zone is a model for other States, as we see the nuclear threat grow by the day.   

And your hosting of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in August reflects your leadership on environmental issues. 

Mongolia has also recognized that in our troubled world, human rights offer solutions based on principles that have stood the test of time.

You have signed and ratified all the key human rights treaties, and you have participated successfully in four rounds of the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review.

Mongolia engages regularly and constructively with UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures, reflecting your commitment to international monitoring and reporting mechanisms.

Your national human rights institution is accredited internationally at the highest level, and has an official oversight role when it comes to data privacy. 

And you have an impressive record of leading the way on human rights. Mongolia passed the first law on human rights defenders in the region, and created one of the first business and human rights action plans. 

Dear friends,

Today, Mongolia faces challenges from several directions. You are at the forefront of the climate and environmental crisis; you are going through a surge in urbanization as I could see just travelling from the airport to the city; and you are dealing with the economic consequences of wars being waged thousands of miles away.

This reflects a growing turbulence in our world, which is experiencing an intense struggle for power, control, and resources. There are those who believe that their own country’s interests come first, without appreciating how deeply interwoven our world has become.

There was a time when diplomacy was the crown jewel in efforts to resolve disputes and conflicts. War was shunned; it was considered a last resort, after all other options had been exhausted.

Today, sadly, the use of force has once again become a tool of choice to resolve disputes between and within countries. Armed conflicts have nearly doubled since 2010, while attacks on civilians and on civilian infrastructure have risen. From Ukraine to Sudan and the Occupied Palestinian Territory to Myanmar, parties to conflict are ignoring the laws of war with attacks on hospitals, schools, and civilian infrastructure.

I have called repeatedly for steps to tackle weapons transfers, hate speech and dehumanization; and for investigations and accountability for war crimes. These steps are dictated by respect for human rights law, and my staff around the world are working to support them.

We are also developing confidence‑building measures based on human rights, that can help build trust between warring parties as a first step towards dialogue. I commend Mongolia’s role as a convenor and a conduit, through the Ulaanbaatar Security Dialogues.

The bigger picture is that we need a much stronger focus on human rights to prevent conflicts from starting in the first place. Many are rooted in discrimination, inequality, oppression, racism, and neo-colonial attitudes. If we tackle these approaches, we make our world safer.

But today’s global trends point in the opposite direction. Inequalities are worsening; the Sustainable Development Goals are badly off track. One in four people around the world face food insecurity, and one in three lack adequate housing. These are shocking figures, particularly at a time when billions – if not trillions – are being spent on waging war. The issue is not about money; it is about priorities.

The recent US and Israeli attacks on Iran, and Iran’s counterattacks, have made matters worse. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global energy markets and supplies, with the potential to create serious hunger and healthcare crises.

The United Nations, with many countries in the region and beyond, is doing everything possible to bring this crisis to an end, and to free up shipping in the Strait as soon as possible.  

But we should all learn – and perhaps even relearn – an essential lesson: we are all connected, and nothing can insulate any country from what happens in the rest of the world.

This is one of the fundamental lessons of Buddhism – that we are all part of a greater whole.

Mongolians are the living embodiment of this. You know well that global problems require global solutions.

From health to economics to climate to emerging technologies: we need to tackle these challenges together. And Mongolia has an important part to play.

Dear friends,

Human rights are the bedrock of a more peaceful world based on stronger, more resilient societies.  

I see three areas for action both in Mongolia and around the world.

First, sustainable, inclusive development.

The success of economic development should not be based on money, but on policies that have a positive impact on people’s lives.

Mongolia’s Vision 2050 development strategy, with clear goals and indicators, shows the way forward. I welcome its recognition that Mongolia’s nomadic heritage is a core pillar for sustainability, cultural identity, and economic growth. This is key to protecting and promoting the human rights of all Mongolians.  

Sustainable development also calls for a global reform to enable all countries to access the resources they need.

Countries made important commitments on financing for development in Sevilla and Doha last year. But these promises need to be backed by the political will to reform the international financial system, and bring developing countries to the decision-making table. I also want to mention here the idea of a human rights economy, ensuring that economic policies are infused with human rights obligations.

Second, climate action.

I often wonder how future generations will judge the actions of today’s leaders on the climate crisis. On the current trajectory, our planet will heat up by at least 2.3°C by 2100 – which could be catastrophic for entire countries and regions, including Mongolia.  

Temperatures here are rising three times faster than the global average, with a clear impact on extreme weather. Millions of animals have died in intense cold and ice in recent years, deepening poverty in herder communities.

Dust storms and desertification are devastating communities, while air pollution from burning fossil fuels is a public health crisis. Mongolia is responsible for less than a fifth of one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. 

And yet, the most recent climate negotiations in Brazil failed to agree on phasing out fossil fuels. The International Court of Justice has made clear that countries have a legal obligation to act; but still, they distract and delay.

In some years from now, could this inadequate response be considered ecocide, or even a crime against humanity?

Climate action is a human rights imperative that requires both national action, and joint global commitments.

Third, corporate responsibility.

Business plays a major part in Mongolia’s development. I urge the corporate sector to base your business practices and relationships firmly on human rights.

This will be crucial to build a mining sector that respects labour and land rights, prevents environmental harm, addresses air pollution, and benefits Mongolia’s people rather than billionaires outside the country. 

Human rights are also crucial to the digital technologies that are transforming economies around the world. Without human rights safeguards, AI and other digital tools can deepen inequality and discrimination, enable surveillance, and supercharge disinformation and dangerous content. I welcome the work being done by your National Human Rights Commission to protect human rights and personal data in digital health services and social protection systems.

There is a long-standing misconception that business and human rights are somehow in opposition. This is wrong. There is plenty of evidence that companies that respect human rights also perform better financially.

Attention to human rights strengthens the trust of investors and communities, attracts better employees, and builds a stronger and more sustainable foundation for success.   I am struck by how few business leaders around the world are speaking out against today’s troubling trends. I think that the younger the CEOs become, the more you have young people joining the workforce, the more you will see human rights becoming a feature of business practices. 

Dear friends,

Those trends include what I call an authoritarian playbook – a set of policies and decisions that are often taken up by anti-democratic governments and movements around the world.

Authoritarians often start to extend and consolidate power through vague national security laws that criminalize peaceful criticism and dissent.

Then they try to control information, by capturing some media outlets for propaganda. They may arrest and harass human rights defenders, and portray civil society groups as enemies of the state.

They undermine the independence of judicial institutions – or try to simply abolish them.

And they often target women and minorities for abuse -- like migrants, and the LGBTIQ+ community. They blame these groups for everything that is going wrong within a society.   

This playbook is being used today in many countries around the world. The food is different, the culture is different, but the repression is the same. And this playbook exerts a powerful influence across borders.

Countries with democratic traditions, including Mongolia, must stand together and do everything possible to resist its pull.

Elections are important. But on their own, they are not enough. Individuals and communities need to be heard and represented consistently. Their rights are just as important between election periods.

Policies that promote education, healthcare, and social protection for all, as set out in Vision 2050, are an excellent way to build human rights into decision-making from the ground up.

An open civic space, and a free media, foster creativity and new ideas – the foundations of the knowledge economy Mongolia is striving to build.

Gender equality is essential to making all people feel heard and valued, creating bonds of trust across all sectors of society.

Here in Mongolia, where gender gaps are having a negative impact on women, girls, men and boys, efforts towards greater equality could lead to better health outcomes, more diverse leadership, and a more dynamic economy, for the benefit of all.

I commend Mongolia’s introduction of quotas for both women and men in parliamentary elections.

Building strong, resilient communities means protecting and valuing the contributions of each and everyone – including women and girls, older people, those with disabilities, the LGBTIQ+ community, and minorities of all kinds.

The rule of law, with strong, independent judicial institutions, is the foundation of free, open, democratic societies and economies that work for all.

My Office is going to continue working with the Mongolian government in support of all these goals, from people-centred governance to civic space and the protection of human rights defenders. We are your steadfast ally – with Mongolian society as a whole – in efforts to fulfil the promise of Vision 2050 for all Mongolians.  And our joint efforts can serve to promote human rights across the wider region.

Dear friends,

I spoke earlier about troubling trends around the world.

But at the same time, I see a counterbalance to these trends – a movement being built from the ground up, founded in dignity, equality, and justice.

People around the world, including here in Mongolia, are mobilizing against corruption and the denial of their rights; against violence and conflict; and against injustice and oppression of all kinds. They are calling for peace, human rights, freedom, and opportunities for all.  

Young people are at the forefront of these movements, which bring communities and activists together across dividing lines. The time for single-issue campaigns is over. 

My Office is working together with many of these movements to launch a new initiative, a Global Alliance, of governments, civil society, cities, academia, philanthropy, the private sector and more.

We urgently need to build bridges and work together as one united team for human rights and human dignity.

Let’s stand together in solidarity with each other to champion what unites us and build a better world for all. 

RSF Says Global Press Freedom Situation Worsens Despite Mongolia’s Rising Ranking www.zms.mn

Mongolia ranked 85th in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, rising 17 places from the previous year. To discuss the key factors behind the improvement, as well as the broader global decline in press freedom, B. Dulamkhorloo, founder of the Nest Center for Journalism Innovation and Development, held an online interview with representatives of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), including Advocacy Manager Alexandra Bielakowska and Advocacy Officer Arthur Roche.

During the interview, the RSF representatives discussed the worsening global environment for press freedom, the growing use of legal measures against journalists, and the reasons behind Mongolia’s improved ranking in this year’s index. The following is an edited version of the interview.

B.Dulamkhorloo: Mongolia’s ranking improved this year, but RSF warned that press freedom globally is continuing to decline. How serious is the current situation?

Alexandra Bielakowska:

Reporters Without Borders has published the World Press Freedom Index for 25 years, and this year’s results are among the worst in the history of the index. More than half of the countries surveyed are now categorized as being in a “difficult” or “very serious” situation for press freedom. Only a very small percentage of countries remain in the “good” category.

This is becoming a major concern globally. Journalists and media organizations are facing growing pressure almost everywhere, and protecting independent journalism is becoming increasingly important.

B.Dulamkhorloo: One of the concerns highlighted in this year’s report is the criminalization of journalism. What should countries such as Mongolia pay attention to?

Alexandra Bielakowska:

We are seeing similar tactics used even in countries considered democratic. Governments are increasingly using laws related to national security, cyber security or public safety against journalists.

Media organizations should not become targets under such laws. In countries such as Russia, China, Syria and Iran, journalists are often accused or criminalized simply for reporting facts, even without evidence of wrongdoing.

Arthur Roche:

The legal environment for journalists has deteriorated sharply this year. More than 60 percent of the countries included in the index recorded declines in this area.

Terrorism laws, defamation laws and other legal mechanisms are increasingly being used strategically against journalists. Reporters investigating sensitive issues often face lawsuits or legal retaliation. Political actors are also exploiting loopholes in the legal system to pressure journalists and independent media organizations.

B.Dulamkhorloo: Why is protecting press freedom and freedom of expression so important?

Alexandra Bielakowska:

Among all human rights issues, press freedom is especially important because it is directly linked to the public’s right to know. When press freedom is restricted, people lose access to reliable information.

If journalists cannot speak freely, society’s broader freedom of expression is also weakened. In many cases, authorities attempt to silence journalists in order to hide corruption, abuse of power or other wrongdoing.

We are also seeing disinformation spread through social media platforms. Not only politicians, but also influential business groups and powerful individuals use these platforms to manipulate public opinion or protect their own interests. As a result, media organizations increasingly become targets.

B.Dulamkhorloo: Mongolia improved by 17 places this year. How does RSF interpret this progress?

Alexandra Bielakowska:

RSF evaluates 180 countries using five indicators. Compared with 2025, Mongolia’s media environment has shown improvement. One of the key reasons was the decline in arrests and legal actions against journalists in 2024 and 2025.

Compared with many other countries, attacks against journalists in Mongolia appear to have decreased. Mongolia has long attracted attention because it maintains a relatively open media environment despite being located between two major authoritarian powers. Even last year, Mongolia’s ranking was considered relatively positive.

Another important factor is the active role played by civil society organizations, journalists and media professionals in defending press freedom. Different groups in Mongolia are working together to address challenges facing the media sector, and that collective effort has had a positive impact.

B.Dulamkhorloo: Were there any specific legal developments that contributed to Mongolia’s improved score?

Arthur Roche:

Yes. One important development was the Constitutional Court’s ruling that Article 13.14 was unconstitutional. That decision positively influenced Mongolia’s ranking this year.

The active involvement of lawyers, civil society organizations and media sector representatives who collectively opposed the provision was also very important.

B.Dulamkhorloo: Mongolia’s parliament may soon discuss new amendments to the Criminal Code. What should lawmakers and journalists pay attention to?

Arthur Roche:

When new legislation related to press freedom is introduced, it is important to carefully examine whether the draft contains loopholes that could later be used against journalists.

Even if a provision is rewritten differently, the impact may remain the same if it allows authorities to pressure independent reporting. The definitions used in the draft law are therefore extremely important. We will continue monitoring the parliamentary discussions closely.

B.Dulamkhorloo: What should Mongolia do to further strengthen press freedom?

Alexandra Bielakowska:

Improving press freedom is not only the responsibility of journalists or civil society organizations. Lawmakers and state institutions also have an important role.

If Mongolia wants to protect its democracy, it must continue protecting journalists through strong legal safeguards and support independent media self-regulation. RSF remains ready to provide recommendations and support regarding legislation related to media freedom.

Arthur Roche:

RSF has repeatedly emphasized that improving the economic sustainability of journalism is also important. Independent media organizations need stronger support mechanisms.

At the same time, governments must ensure that journalists are protected from intimidation, legal harassment and physical attacks. Clear legal protections and accountability mechanisms are essential for safeguarding press freedom.

Source: Zuuniimedee № 88 (7830) May 8, 2026

Cooperation to strengthen bilingual education and training programs www.gogo.mn

Minister of Education L.Enkh-Amgalan met with Christophe Kamp, High Commissioner for National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and exchanged views on the quality of education for ethnic minorities, bilingual education and training, and future cooperation in this field.

Following reforms in the education package, Mongolia has for the first time legislated inclusive education, including the provision of mother-tongue and bilingual education for ethnic minorities.

The two sides agreed to work together to achieve tangible results in implementing bilingual education and training programs, strengthen teaching human resources, increase the availability of bilingual textbooks and teaching materials, and support bilingual e-learning and training.

The cooperation will also include making digital content more accessible to ethnic minorities, providing teachers with content and methodology training for bilingual education, and exchanging experience.

During his visit to Mongolia, High Commissioner Christophe Kamp visited ethnic minority education and training settings in Khovd and Bayan-Ulgii provinces and expressed his commitment to supporting bilingual education and working together to address related challenges.

Government Orders Cost Reductions, Efficiency Measures in Energy Sector www.montsame.mn

At its regular session on May 6, the Cabinet approved a resolution aimed at improving governance and increasing efficiency in the energy sector.

Under the resolution Minister of Energy Naidalaa Badrakh was instructed to implement measures to reduce costs by at least three percent across all stages of electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and supply, while improving operational efficiency, ensuring transparency in procurement, strengthening oversight, discipline and accountability, optimizing staffing and organizational structures, and enhancing corporate governance in energy companies.

The resolution also directs authorities to improve the quality of services provided to consumers, expand digitalization, increase productivity and efficiency, and create conditions for consumers to monitor and reduce their electricity consumption and manage payments more conveniently.

To ensure the energy sector can meet peak winter demand in 2026–2027, the Government plans to commission the 70 MW thermal power plant under construction in Sukhbaatar soum of Selenge aimag during the third quarter of this year. The “Zes Oyu” power plant, which will supply up to 80 MW to the Central Region Integrated Grid, is also scheduled to enter operation before August. In addition, battery energy storage projects aimed at covering electricity shortages during peak demand periods will be implemented with private-sector investment.

Struggling with inadequate English teaching capacity www.ubpost.mn

In an increasingly interconnected world, English has become more than a foreign language for Mongolians; it functions as a gateway to global knowledge, education, and professional opportunity. It is the dominant medium of academic research, international business, digital communication, and cross-cultural exchange. For countries such as Mongolia, where engagement with global systems continues to expand, English language proficiency is no longer optional but essential for long-term development and competitiveness.

Yet despite its growing importance, data suggests that Mongolia’s English proficiency remains at a developmental stage. According to the EF English Proficiency Index 2025, Mongolia ranks 95th out of 123 countries, with a score of 447, placing it within the low proficiency category and below the global average of 488. The EF English Proficiency Index evaluates countries’ English skills using data from millions of adults worldwide who voluntarily took the EF Standard English Test. Rather than testing entire populations, it analyzes self-selected learners, combining results from several versions of the test and normalizing them into a single score for each country. In its latest edition, the index assesses all four key language skills, reading, listening, speaking, and writing, and calculates national averages based on these results. Countries are then ranked and placed into proficiency bands ranging from very high to very low. 

Moreover, the data also reveals uneven skill development: learners perform relatively better in reading (463) and listening (423), while significantly lower results are recorded in speaking (389) and writing (390). This imbalance reflects an education system where English is often learned for comprehension rather than active communication.

At the center of this challenge is a shortage of qualified English teachers. Nationally, Mongolia has more than 6,200 English language teachers, yet 62 percent do not meet international competency standards, while only 32 percent are considered adequately qualified to teach English at a global level. This gap is reflected directly in classroom realities.

In Ulaanbaatar City alone, over 336,000 students study English across 332 public schools, supported by approximately 1,532 English and English-Russian teachers. Based on workload calculations, the capital city faces a shortage of around 210 teachers. As of March 11, 181 teaching vacancies remained unfilled in 87 public schools across the capital city.

In response, education authorities are actively discussing policy solutions, including the recruitment of foreign English teachers. According to the Capital City Education Department, hiring around 200 foreign teachers, particularly from countries such as the Philippines, would require approximately 3.9 billion MNT. Officials argue that this measure could help reduce workload pressure, improve teaching quality, and introduce more effective language teaching methodologies.

However, questions remain over whether this is a sustainable and fully effective solution. While foreign teachers may provide an immediate boost in exposure to fluent English and modern teaching methods, education experts often note that short-term recruitment alone cannot resolve structural issues such as teacher training quality, retention, and unequal distribution across schools. Without parallel investment in developing local teachers and improving working conditions, the impact may remain limited in scale and duration.

 Structural challenges

English is taught as the primary foreign language in Mongolia’s general education system, beginning in the third grade, and continues as a compulsory subject through to grade 12. In line with the revised education law, a foundational English curriculum was officially introduced at the primary level starting from the 2023–2024 academic year, marking a significant policy shift toward earlier language acquisition. Despite these efforts, learning outcomes remain uneven across the country. Data from the EF English Proficiency Index indicates a modest urban advantage, with Ulaanbaatar City scoring 454, which is slightly above the national average. This disparity underscores deeper structural inequalities, including uneven access to qualified teachers, limited availability of quality learning resources, and insufficient opportunities for authentic English exposure, particularly in rural and remote areas.

Beyond numerical shortages, deeper structural issues continue to weaken English education outcomes. One of the most significant is the limited attractiveness of the teaching profession itself. Teachers often face relatively low salaries, heavy workloads, and limited opportunities for professional growth.  

Concerns have also been raised about how the teacher training scholarship scheme has shaped perceptions of the profession. According to a third-year student from the English and German Language Department of the Mongolian National University of Education (MNUE), the policy has increased enrollment in teacher education programs, but not always for reasons of strong professional motivation.

“Not only English teaching, but teaching in general has almost lost its appeal because of the teacher training scholarship program. Since students who just meet the entrance exam threshold can study without paying tuition, enrollment has increased. However, there is no guarantee that all of them chose this profession out of genuine interest. Many may have selected it simply because it is free or accessible. This, in turn, creates a perception that teaching is an ‘easy option’ or a profession for those without other choices. It affects the training of qualified teachers and also influences the students’ perception of teachers,” the student said.

Such perceptions may further affect both the motivation of future teachers and the overall quality of teacher preparation, adding another layer to the ongoing challenge of strengthening English education in Mongolia.

Uneven access to language

Another critical factor is the persistent and widening gap between urban and rural education systems. Students in Ulaanbaatar City generally perform slightly above the national average thanks to better access to qualified teachers, learning materials, private tutoring, and greater exposure to English-language environments. In contrast, rural and remote areas continue to face significant structural challenges, including teacher shortages, limited resources, and weaker connectivity that restrict access to authentic English content.

This inequality creates a system where English learning outcomes depend heavily on geography rather than equal opportunity. In many schools, especially outside the capital and urban centers, English instruction remains largely focused on grammar rules, memorization, and exam preparation. Students often gain theoretical understanding of language structures but lack practical communication skills, particularly in speaking and writing.

These disparities are also reflected in national proficiency data, where productive skills remain significantly lower than receptive ones, highlighting a system that does not yet fully support active language use.

A clearer picture of this gap emerges from students’ experiences. An eighth-grade student from Arvaikheer soum of Uvukhangai Province said that opportunities for real communication practice are extremely limited in rural schools. “There are no English clubs at my school and no native speakers to practice speaking skills with. There were Peace Corps volunteers working at my school last year, but to be honest, it was very difficult to speak with them because my English was not that good,” she said.

Similar challenges are also felt at the teacher education level. A second-year student at MNUE, specializing in primary education, noted that while new initiatives aim to strengthen English teaching capacity in primary schools, the gap remains significant for students from rural backgrounds. “There is a program to support and prepare primary school teachers with English skills, because third graders now learn English through the Pearson platform. However, as a student from a rural area, it is still hard to improve my English, especially at times when young students are learning English through digital sources, and are better than adults at English,” she said.

These experiences reflect a broader reality: while policy reforms and digital tools are expanding access in theory, unequal infrastructure and limited communicative environments continue to shape very different learning conditions across regions.

Reforms and emerging supports 

Despite these challenges, Mongolia has begun implementing a range of reforms aimed at improving English education outcomes. One of the most significant policy shifts has been the introduction of a foundational English curriculum at the primary level starting from the 2023–2024 academic year. This marks an important step toward earlier exposure to the language, which is widely recognized as critical for fluency development.

In parallel, several national and international initiatives are being implemented to strengthen teacher capacity and expand access to learning. One such initiative, led by “EF Efekta”, is targeting over 7,000 students in Ulaanbaatar’s Nalaikh, Baganuur, and Bagakhangai districts, as well as vocational education centers. The program also provides AI-based English training for more than 10,000 individuals, including over 2,000 English and IT teachers.

These digital and hybrid approaches aim to reduce teacher workload while expanding access to more flexible learning environments. Additionally, short-term overseas training opportunities and professional development programs are being offered to teachers, although policymakers emphasize that long-term, structured, and sustainable training systems are still needed.

Alongside formal education reforms, English-language media has played a subtle but important role in language learning. Among these, The UB Post stands as one of Mongolia’s longest-running English-language newspapers, first published in 1996 and continuing to be published three times a week with an eight-pager. While global media consumption has increasingly shifted toward digital platforms, The UB Post maintains both print and digital formats, offering structured and consistent English-language exposure. Its availability on platforms such as PressReader has also expanded its international reach.

In the classroom context, educators at institutions such as the National University of Mongolia, MNUE, and some secondary schools have integrated newspaper articles into teaching practice. Teachers highlight that The UB Post provides authentic English that reflects real-world usage, unlike simplified textbook content. Articles are used for reading comprehension, vocabulary development, discussion activities, and critical analysis.

Students often find newspaper content more challenging than textbooks due to unfamiliar vocabulary and complex sentence structures. However, this difficulty also encourages independent learning and deeper engagement with the language. Exposure to journalistic writing helps learners become familiar with passive structures, reported speech, and concise descriptive language commonly used in professional communication.

From a pedagogical perspective, printed newspapers also support deeper cognitive processing. Research on extensive reading shows that consistent engagement with authentic texts improves vocabulary retention, reading fluency, and grammatical awareness. Print formats, in particular, encourage slower, more focused reading, allowing learners to annotate, reread, and reflect, practices that are often lost in fast-paced digital environments.

Internationally, similar models exist in countries such as Japan and South Korea, where English-language newspapers are widely used in education to bridge academic learning and real-world communication. In this sense, The UB Post serves a comparable role in Mongolia’s language learning ecosystem.

Need to build sustainable English learning environment

Mongolia’s English proficiency challenge is not simply a matter of curriculum design, but a complex systemic issue shaped by teacher shortages, uneven qualification levels, regional inequality, and limited access to authentic English-language environments. While recent reforms such as earlier English instruction in primary schools, digital learning initiatives, and the recruitment of foreign teachers represent important steps forward, these measures alone have yet to fully address the deeply rooted structural constraints affecting learning outcomes.

At the same time, supplementary tools like The UB Post illustrate how consistent exposure to real-world English can meaningfully support classroom instruction and help bridge gaps in formal teaching. By providing authentic language use beyond textbooks, such resources offer students additional opportunities to engage with vocabulary, structure, and contemporary usage in a practical context.

Ultimately, improving English language outcomes in Mongolia requires a long-term, multi-layered approach that goes beyond isolated reforms. It demands coordinated investment in teacher training and retention, equitable access to quality resources across regions, integration of technology, and the expansion of meaningful learning environments. As Mongolia’s global engagement continues to grow, strengthening English education is not only an educational priority, but also a strategic investment in future opportunity, social equity, and national competitiveness.

By D.CHANTSALMAA