Literacy

From Mongol Studies Online Reference

[edit] Overview

Mongolia has a surprisingly high literacy rate, consistently rated around 98%.^[1] This is an unexpected figure for a country that is often rated as one of the poorest in Asia. For comparison it is useful to note that the World Bank, which supports the above figure, rates Mongolia’s more prosperous neighbor China’s literacy rate at 91%.^[2] Mongolia has benefited from compulsory primary education under the communist regime in the 20th century, continuing in similar form today, and which may help explain the situation.^[3] Also, the fact that 90% of the population speaks Khalka Mongolian as their primary language may help literacy in that resources can be largely focused on one language.^[4] The Mongolian government's non-formal distance education programs also provide opportunities for citizens to learn to read and write.^{[5] [6]}

[edit] History

Mongolian literacy has its start near the beginning of the Mongolian Empire in 1204 when Chinggis Khan commissioned the Uyghur scribe Tatar-Tonga to create what became the traditional Mongolian script, or "Mongol Bichig."^[7]

Historically most of the Mongolia population could not read. As late as 1934 55% of communist party members were illiterate.^[8]

[edit] References

1. ↑ “Mongolia” World Bank Education at a Glance. No date. World Bank. Accessed 8 May 2008.
2. ↑ “China” World Bank Education at a Glance. No date. World Bank. Accessed 8 May 2008.
3. ↑ Del Rosario, Mercedes. “Mongolian Dropout Study.” Mongolian Education Alliance Ulaanbataar, Mongolia, 2005.
4. ↑ “Mongolia” Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook. Accessed 7 May 2008.
5. ↑ Literacy Resource Centre of Mongolia (LRCM). National Centre for Non Formal and Distance Education (NFDE). Accessed 12 June 2008.
6. ↑ (Mongolian site) National Centre for Non Formal and Distance Education. Accessed 12 June 2008.
7. ↑ Omniglot, "Writing Systems and Languages of the World." Omniglot.com. Accessed 12 June 2008.
8. ↑ Worden, Robert L. and Savada, Andrea Matles, editors. "Education" in Mongolia: A Country Study. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress, 1989. Accessed 3 July 2008.