Mongolian Teachers Demand Fair Pay and Education Investment Amid Growing Protests
Peaceful sit-ins by teachers in Ulaanbaatar are gaining strong national attention. Railway sector workers have also joined, showing growing solidarity. The public continues to back the movement, calling for fair wages and better school conditions.
Teachers’ Voices and Demands
At a recent meeting, the Federation of Mongolian Education and Science Unions (FMESU) urged the government to prioritize investment in teachers. One demonstrator shared that educators struggle with rising costs, poor infrastructure, and heavy workloads.
“We can’t make ends meet. Inflation, unaffordable housing, and lack of support make our jobs harder every year,” the teacher said.
Government’s Response
On October 8, 2025, Prime Minister G. Zandanshatar and key ministers met with FMESU representatives. The Prime Minister promised to double investment in education for 2026 and add 100 billion tugriks in variable costs. He also discussed raising salaries by activating new economic projects like the Bortee coal deposit.
However, Education Minister P. Naranbayar explained that raising the base salary alone would require 3.3 trillion tugriks annually, more than the state can afford. A phased increase was proposed, starting with 1.85 million tugriks in January 2026 and reaching 3.5 million by 2028.
Union Rejects Proposal
FMESU rejected the offer, saying teachers cannot wait years for relief. The union has filed a collective dispute and formally submitted a strike notice. Teachers argue their current salary of 1.4 million tugriks is far below other public workers, such as bus drivers earning 3.5 million.
The public continues to show strong support for educators. FMESU remains firm, calling for immediate and meaningful action to secure fair pay and sustainable education funding.
