On March 25, an event took place in Mongolia at the UN House, where the involvement of youth in the project "Overcoming Language Barriers" was discussed. This project is funded by the UK government and implemented by UNICEF in collaboration with the Ministry of Education of Mongolia. Details are reported by MiddleAsianNews.
Attending the event were Sima Malhotra, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Indo-Pacific, Minister of Education Naranbayar Purevsuren, UK Ambassador to Mongolia Fiona Blight, as well as representatives from UNICEF. Participants discussed the results of the project, which brought together officials, educators, and students. The event included an interactive session between schoolchildren and government representatives.
“During our annual political dialogue and meeting with the Prime Minister, we discussed the future of our long-term and deep partnership with Mongolia. We also talked about the progress in implementing the ambitious initiative for building a metro in Ulaanbaatar, which will significantly change the lives of city residents. I am pleased to see the results of our investments in education. Investments in the English language and programs like Chevening help nurture a new generation of leaders,” noted Sima Malhotra about her visit to Mongolia from March 23 to 25.
The "Overcoming Language Barriers" project has impacted 739 English language teachers in Mongolia and provided access to education for 140,000 students through English conversation clubs and digital devices.
An English teacher from Dundgovi, Tuvshinmergen Batbold, emphasized: “For students from rural areas, English language teachers become an important link to the outside world. I am grateful for the support of the project, which benefits not only us but also our students.”
Bakhitgul Altai, an English teacher from Bayan-Ölgii, added: “Many of my students are children of eagle hunters. This project demonstrates that with the right support, dreams can become a reality, and students can connect with the world while preserving their unique culture.”
“I was born into a nomadic family close to nature. Participating in the 'Overcoming Language Barriers' project not only gave me a new language but also opened new horizons. I have become more open and curious,” shared her impressions of the project student Zeynep Armanbek from Bayan-Ölgii.
With the introduction of English as a mandatory subject starting from the 3rd grade in the 2025-2026 academic year, there is an urgent need for programs that strengthen and support teachers' skills, especially among those with a level below B1.
On December 30, 2025, a cooperation agreement was signed within the framework of the "Overcoming Language Barriers: Reaching Socially Vulnerable Groups through English Language Teaching - II" project, which is implemented jointly by the Ministry of Education and UNICEF with funding from the UK government.
The first phase of the project started in early 2025 and covered more than 320 English language teachers from various sums of the aimags of Bayan-Ölgii, Bayankhongor, and Sukhbaatar, who underwent training for more than 100 hours. 39% of them significantly improved their English proficiency. More than 540 students also participated in 15 English conversation clubs, and 126 digital devices were provided to 26 schools, contributing to the creation of a digital educational environment.
The second phase of the project covers the aimags of Bulgan, Arkhangai, Khövsgöl, Khentii, and Dundgovi and aims to enhance the language and pedagogical skills of more than 450 English language teachers, as well as to train new mentors.
