A revelation that graduates of the Mongolian State University of Culture and Arts (MSUAC) used to bully other students shocked many people recently. Information related to this has appeared several times on social media channels. Especially the things written about the escalation of this problem in a university that is supposed to train art specialists who are supposed to influence others and develop them with precious feelings, make anyone wonder, “Is this possible?”. However, it should be noted that none of these things have been proven to be 100 percent true.
Previously, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) held an inspection in May 2023 on the implementation of the right to education and the right to be free from discrimination guaranteed by international treaties and conventions signed by Mongolia and domestic laws. The inspection was conducted using methods such as individual interviews with teachers, students and their representatives, taking comments and questionnaires, obtaining comments from relevant officials, and analyzing necessary documents, and the following requirements were submitted to the MSUAC.
Firstly, to implement, ensure and supervise implementations of those laws and ethics said in Article 13.2.6 of the General Law on Education, revised in 2023, states “to preserve and protect personal privacy, not to discriminate against students, and to support learning methods”, and in Article 13.2.7 “strictly observe the teacher’s professional ethics and cherish dignity”, in the “Regulations of the Mongolian State University of Culture and Arts” approved by resolution No. 06 of September 28, 2022 of the Board of Directors of the school. Second, the university is advised “to strictly observe the professional ethics of teachers and cherish the dignity” approved by the director’s order No. A/162 of May 1, 2018. Moreover, the university needs to also eliminate the detected violations and take into account the results said in section 11.5 of the “General regulation on monitoring and evaluation of policy documents implementation and activities conducted by administrative organization” approved by Government Resolution No. 206 of 2020 and “based on the progress of monitoring and evaluation and the final conclusions and recommendations, amendments and other necessary measures will be organized by the relevant organization and official”.
The university submitted the implementation and results of the measures taken in accordance with those recommendations, along with relevant evidence to the Commission on September 25, 2023, in accordance with Article 28, Section 28.1 of the Law on the NHRC of Mongolia. In the official letter, MSUAC has set the goal of the academic year 2023-2024 as “The year of valuing educational leadership and positive attitude”. In relation to that, each structural school, department, and unit intends to take leadership in the field of education by making progress in the positive impact on human rights and ethical relations through activities aimed at teachers, employees, and students.
Also, as part of the work of implementing the recommendations of NHRC, according to the first appendix of the order No. A/240 dated August 30, 2023 of the director of the MSUAC, working group was formed to revise the rules of conduct, to develop and implement a plan to reduce the bullying determined by the monitoring and inspection of the NHRC and to implement the recommendations of the members of the Commission.
In the future, it is mentioned in the official letter that the teachers, staff and students of the University will be regularly provided with human rights, gender and relevant legal education and information, and the management of the structural school will monitor the implementation of the planned activities and ensure the implementation. The action plan is attached.
