Where did over 600,000 school children vanish?
Summary
Over 600,000 children who enrolled in grade 1 in Nepal in 2016 have dropped out of formal schooling by 2026, with only about 41% completing secondary education on schedule. The dropout crisis is driven by economic hardship, academic failure, social traditions, and regional disparities, despite government efforts to provide free education and incentives.
Key Points
- In 2016, over 1 million children enrolled in grade 1 in Nepal, but by 2026 only around 430,667 remained to take the SEE exams.
- Approximately 59.14% of students from the 2016 cohort dropped out before completing secondary education, with significant regional and socio-economic disparities.
- Major dropout causes vary by education level, including financial distress in early grades, academic failure and disinterest in middle school, and social traditions like early marriage affecting high school attendance.
- Government incentives such as free textbooks and midday meals are in place, but structural and quality issues in education continue to drive dropouts, risking legal disenfranchisement under the 2018 Education Act.
