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of these offer language training, for example, Russian. ThePrimary and secondary education systemincluded four years of compulsory schooling followed by a further four years of compulsory lower-

secondary education. There were then two years of upper-secondary non-compulsory education that eitherhave a vocational, technical, or general education focus.Mongolia's school system was previously based onthe ten-year school similar to many post-socialist countries. However, it has been moving towards elevenyears of education. The official school entrance age has been lowered to six starting 2008. There are several

private secondary schools that have instruction in English and Mongolian, and just a few that have English-only instruction. There has been noteworthy growth in the higher education system of Mongoliato this day.

There are many universities in this country.

Literacy Rates

The literacy rate in Mongolia is rather impressive. The country has a high literacy rate which is consistently

rated around 98%.This is a high figure for a country that is often rated as one of the poorest in Asia.Mongolia has benefited from compulsory primary education under the communist regime in the 20thcentury, continuing in similar form today.The Mongolian government's non-formal distance education

programs also provide large scopes for citizens to learn to read and write.

Geographical Settings:

The geographic settings, that is, the location, climate, and topography of Mongolia are such that the countryis a landlocked one. Its situated in Northern Asia and strategically located between China and Russia. Theterrain is one of mountains and rolling plateaus, with a high degree of relief. In general, the land slopes fromthe high Altay Mountains of the west and the north to plains and depressions in the east and the south.Mongolia is the world's 19th-largest country.The geography of Mongolia is diverse. It has the Gobi Desert to

the south and cold and mountainous regions to the north and west. A good deal of Mongolia consists ofsteppes.Most of the country is hot in the summer and extremely cold in the winter. For instance, January

averages falls as low as 30 C (22 F). Mongolia has a severe continental climate with long, cold wintersand short summers. During this, most ofthe countrys annual rainfall decreases. In other words, the country

is high, cold, and windy.

Social Institutions:

Family

The social institutions, such as, the family, dynamics of the family, female/male roles can be described as

follows:

Many Mongolians do not value their complex extended families. However, the more intimate intermediatefamily is considered sacred, and is valued greatly. A Mongolian family generally consists of a husband, a

wife, and their young children. The sons move out of their parents after marrying. However, Nomadicfamilies share a close bond because they always travel together, and live in the same yurt, with childrensleeping on one side, and the parents on the other. There is a high birthrate in Mongolia, and families tend to

have many children.

Wedding ceremonies of the country traditionally include the hand-over of a new yurt (ger) to the marrying

couple. Family law in Mongolia provides for marriages based on free consent. In addition, the lawestablishes 18 years as the minimum age for males and females. Besides, forced marriage is a crime under

the Criminal Code.Mongolias 1992 Family Law provides for equal parental authority and spousal rights. Inpractice, the responsibility of family and childcare falls almost exclusively on women.

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Growing rural to urban migration has also led to a considerable raise in the number of female-headedhouseholds in urban areas of Mongolia. There has been a shift in attitudes towards the social institution of the

family amongst women.