A specialized upper secondary school established through a public-private partnership has begun operations in Ulaanbaatar’s Khan-Uul District, marking a first for Mongolia.
Located in the 21st khoroo of Khan-Uul District, Erdem Nova School was established to help address limited access to public schools and overcrowded classrooms in the district, while also expanding educational opportunities and improving the quality of secondary education.
More than 500 upper secondary students from five schools in Khan-Uul District submitted essays outlining their academic goals and have been selected to pursue advanced studies in mathematics and natural sciences at the new school.
Unlike conventional upper secondary schools, the specialized school does not require students to attend based on their residential catchment area. Instead, students are given the opportunity to focus on fields they intend to specialize in, allowing them to develop academic knowledge and skills at an earlier stage.
While students in Mongolia’s mainstream general education system are required to study 16 subjects, those enrolled at the specialized school can devote up to 50 percent of their curriculum to in-depth study of subjects related to their chosen field.
The program also allows students to take certain courses typically taught at the introductory university level while still in high school. This is designed to ensure that students enter university with a stronger academic foundation and the skills required for their intended field of study.
Each student will have an individualized weekly study plan, providing opportunities to pursue coursework aligned with their intended profession and, where appropriate, study introductory university-level subjects while still in secondary school.
