Keeping kids safe and healthy through coal-free heating solution

Mongolia is committed to providing early childhood education for every child aged 2-5 years old by enrolling them in kindergartens. However, there are insufficient spaces in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, and in 21 provinces. To address space limitations in a cost-efficient and prompt manner, ger kindergartens or classrooms in the immediate vicinity of the main kindergarten building have been introduced.

Kindergarten #6, located in the suburban areas of the Bayanzurkh district in Ulaanbaatar, established the ger kindergarten in 2017 by connecting three traditional Gers, each with a size of 28.0 square meters (about the area of a parking space). This Ger kindergarten has enabled the enrollment of an additional 90 children every year. While the administrators and teachers have made tremendous efforts to create a better learning environment, the main struggle during winter has been to maintain a comfortable room temperature for the children’s healthy stay and learning. Between 2017 and 2022, the kindergarten used coal-burning stoves with protective steel fences to avoid the risk of children getting burnt by hot stoves.

Ms. Enkhsaikhan. B, who works at kindergarten #6, looks after over 30 kids aged 3-4 years old. She shares, “We would burn coal all day during winter months to heat the classroom. As a result, the classrooms would be covered with ash, and there would be a strong unpleasant smell of coal. Almost all day, we would wipe the dust off toys, surfaces, and clean the classrooms. It would take a lot of time, and we could not properly teach, care for, and play with the children. Teachers were constantly worried that the children might fall into hot stoves and get burnt.”

Healthy and Safe Solutions for Children

In 2022, UNICEF equipped the ger kindergartens with the so-called Cooking, Heating, and Insulation Products (CHIP), designed and tested by UNICEF and partners to protect children from indoor air pollution. The package has three key components: insulation, electric heating, and ventilation. The product allows for heating Gers with electric heaters in a cost-effective way while ensuring proper insulation. Additionally, it allows for normal humidity inside the ger with an effective and proper ventilation system.

“With CHIP installation, the classrooms now have a stable temperature and normal humidity, and our classrooms are tidier and cleaner than they used to be. I happily see our children moving and playing freely in the ger classrooms,” enthusiastically explains Ms. Enkhsaikhan. She further highlights that sick leaves among children have reduced, and their attendance rate has increased by 17% compared to last winter.

Ms. Enkhsaikhan shares how a warm and clean environment in the ger kindergartens led to more productivity, higher quality work, and better performance. “Kindergartens have a fixed amount of coal for the day, and we had to limit coal use after children go home in the evening. I usually like staying a little longer in the kindergarten and preparing my classes for the next day, but I could not stay in a cold ger classroom. As a teacher, I hugely appreciate UNICEF’s support for such practical and affordable technology solutions to create a safe, clean, and comfortable environment for children as well as teachers.”