Mongolian Development Center, Mongolia
About Mongolian Development Center
Mona Partner Since 2008
Collaborating closely with public kindergartens, the Mongolian Development Center (MDC) trains teachers and engages parents to implement its renowned “Hidden Gems” early childhood development program.
Rooted in the belief that every child possesses inherent nobility and potential, the curriculum uses workbooks, songs, and stories to teach children ages 2-5 to develop virtuous character. In working with 13 schools in 4 communities educating 2,142 students, MDC tailors its approach to each kindergarten based on their level of experience to ensure a dynamic and effective implementation of the curriculum across diverse educational settings.
The Challenge
Mongolia is located between Russia to the north and China to the south, deep within the interior of eastern Asia and far from any ocean. With a total population of fewer than three million, Mongolia has one of the lowest average population densities of any country in the world. According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, 31% of the population is less than 15 years old. With the vast majority of brain development occurring in the first 2-3 years of life, the country does not enough pre-schools or kindergartens that teach moral education.
The Solution: MDC Programs
Hidden Gems Program
Pre-K Curriculum
The “Hidden Gems” course materials are for children ages 2 - 5 years old. They support character development at three levels with a focus on moral capabilities. The program includes children’s workbooks, a teacher’s manual, parents’ manual, display material with quotations, pictures illustrating moral capabilities, and a CD of songs and stories.
Teacher Training
The teachers study two curricula: “‘The Teacher as a Model” and “Encouraging Children and Bringing Joy to their Hearts.” They also meet with parents during the trainings to learn about their views on the role of teachers as models for the children.
“Educating our Children” is a training course for parents, which helps them understand that moral education is fundamental to all branches of education and to reflect on their attitudes and practices in the education and discipline of their children.
How we help
Mona Foundation believes that teacher training and continuous learning are at the core of teaching and learning, particularly in the early years of life. For this reason, Mona has been supporting the Mongolian Development Center's early childhood education program since 2008. We are now beginning to see how early childhood education is being transformed and practiced in Mongolia.
2024 Achievements
- 13 public schools in 4 communities implemented Hidden Gems curriculum
- 2,142 pre-school and kindergarten students received character education
- 670 parents participated in training on developing good moral character in their children
2025 Plans, $58,425
- 3 new kindergartens will join in implementing the Hidden Gems curriculum
- MDC will work with
16 kindergartens and a total of
170 teachers
to educate more than
2,700 children
Updates
Toddlers caring for each other
January 2024 - The Hidden Gems program helps children learn to care for themselves and each other. In a country where the shortage of kindergartens results in high student-to-teacher ratios, teachers are often challenged to provide individualized attention. The following anecdote from a teacher involves 3-year-olds:
"During a choir performance in the music hall, two children suddenly went missing and couldn't be located. In my search for them, I entered the classroom and was pleasantly surprised to witness a girl assisting a boy who struggled to put on a tie and a shirt with many buttons. Despite my initial nervousness due to limited time for individual attention, it was heartwarming to observe the children taking the initiative to care for each other."
Collaborating to Raise Quality
Mongolian Development Centre has created a strong network of teachers and schools that share and reflect on their growing experience to continually improve the quality of the program. The young teachers taking the Hidden Gems training are enthusiastic about the curriculum.
“First of all we need to change our mindset. We have many things which we know but never put into action. I learned many skills and methods such as how to help children become active members of the society, how to correctly work with each individual child, and ways of encouragement and conversing with them. This training is real encouragement for new teachers who have just started working as teachers. The training was very different than other trainings in which we participated. For example, all teachers were able to participate and that helped us to learn to work as teams. I was inspired to learn more and I will work hard to become a better teacher.”
An Impact Story
A kindergarten teacher asked the students
to draw children on the white board. One
girl began to cry, explaining that she did
not know how to draw kids. Rather than responding right away, the teacher
gave space for the children to help each
other, trusting in their capacity to be
compassionate and helpful.
The boys sitting next to the girl were
concerned for their friend, helped her draw
a dress and head, and then said, “You can
draw the arms and legs.” The girl, feeling
encouraged, drew the arms, legs and added
hair. All the children were happy when she
finished her drawing.
Stories of Transformation
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