Community schools shrink as private education expands in Nepal
Summary
Nepal sees a decline in community schools with a rise in private institutions, highlighting widening education access inequalities. Meanwhile, health indicators improve with expanded government health facilities and better maternal and child health outcomes.
Key Points
- The number of community schools in Nepal has decreased from 27,813 in 2020-21 to 25,623 in 2025-26, while private schools increased from 19% to 25% of total schools.
- Student enrollment shows 62% in community schools and 38% in private schools, a notable shift from a decade ago when 80% attended community schools.
- Nepal's health sector has expanded with 8,976 government health facilities in 2025-26, including 420 hospitals and improved maternal and child health indicators.
- Higher education enrollment rose by 10.9% in 2025-26, though technical education fields still attract limited student interest.
