START2 Project Has Been Completed

Time flies, and the START2 project, which began in the summer of 2020, was completed in August 2024.

It has been about 10 years since START1 project started in 2015. During that time, Mongolian inclusive education situation has seen many positive changes, including the establishment of a legal system to promote inclusive education, the contents of inclusive education being covered in basic training for first-year, fifth-year, and tenth-year teachers, and an increase in the number of children who are enrolled in kindergartens and schools. We are pleased that START project was able to be a part of these changes together with stakeholders in Mongolia.

At the end of the project, we have the following message to the people of Mongolia.

We remember when we conducted a survey about children with disabilities in Mongolia in 2013. At that time, the concept of inclusive education was not widespread. Opportunities for children with disabilities to learn in regular schools were not as open as they are now. In special schools, teachers who had acquired expertise in Russia and/or Hungary worked hard to provide the children with better education. We also met parents who were desperately looking for a better opportunity for their children, even if they did not receive appropriate support from society.

10 years have passed since then, and now the situation is different.
Laws have been put in place and various regulations and systems have been created. It is our great pleasure that START project has been able to help by introducing School Enrollment Committee Meeting, Kindergarten/School Committee, and Individualized Education Plan.

The idea of inclusive education has taken root in Mongolian society. We believe that this remarkable change in such a short period of time offers great hope not only for Mongolia, but also for other countries around the world that are dealing with similar issues.

However, we still wonder how that child who was not able to attend school 10 years ago is doing. We must not forget that there are still children who are unable to attend school and whose participation in society is restricted.

START project was completed in August 2024.
However, the movement to promote inclusive education needs to continue.
We hope that the people of Mongolia will continue to play the leading role in this effort so that all children can enjoy a positive school life and open up possibilities for a bright future.

Last but not least, we would like to thank all government officials, teachers, citizens, and children who have worked to realize inclusive society in Mongolia.