Significant progress has been achieved in terms of developing the non-formal education sub-sector. The establishment of the National Non-formal and Distance Education Centre is a major milestone, a nationwide structure to deliver non-formal education (NFE) with designated staff. The introduction of an equivalency curriculum for NFE and development of relevant training modules are significant achievements. In particular, the latest amendment to the Education Law (2006) that secures state education budget allocation for NFE students in the same way as students in regular schools was a major policy decision (UNESCO 2008).
The Education Law (amended in 1995) has officially integrated non-formal education into the broader education system of Mongolia. However, under the current concept and practice, school success at reaching children who are out of school or left behind has been limited, leaving much of this work to the non-formal education sub-sector. This needs to be changed fundamentally so that schools are accountable for delivering the services to all children in their respective areas by using both formal and non-formal delivery schemes (UNESCO 2008).
