Catalysts for Change: Parent-Teacher Associations in Mongolian Schools

Abstract

This report constitutes the final evaluation of the transparency and accountability in Mongolian education (TAME) project supported by a 650,000 dollars four-year grant from the Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA). The project’s goal was to strengthen civic engagement in the education sector to improve transparency and accountability of budget and procurement processes for the delivery of better-quality educational services in central and western Mongolia. The aim was to jump-start civil society engagement in selected schools to improve the transparency of school budgets and procurement practices in order to improve service delivery. The eight provinces chosen (Uvurkhanghai, Khuvskul, Bulgan, Bayan-Ulgii, Khovd, Uvs, Arkhangai, and Sukhbaatar) are home to a number of minorities such as Kazakhs, Tuvas, Tsaatan, Buryats, and others. The challenge of delivering educational services to these regions and minority groups is compounded by their remoteness. The TAME project was designed around two main components: the first to promote civic engagement at the school and district level through parent teacher associations (PTAs), and the second focused on budget and procurement transparency at the whole provincial level, implemented through civil society organizations (CSOs).