Parliament  today agreed to further discuss a draft law initiated by President Ts.Elbegdorj to give all 140,000 students  at all the 111 recognized universities and institutes in the country  an annual stipend of MNT700,000. The measure will cost the state MNT130 billion in a year. The money will be paid to students in ten equal monthly installments.
MPs U.Enkhtuvshin and R.Bud felt claim to and payment of the stipend should be made conditional on the students’ grades and general performance. It should not be akin to a budgetary social welfare measure where the recipient has to do nothing to enjoy the benefit, they said.