In Achham, fewer children means fewer classrooms
Summary
Falling births and migration are emptying classrooms across Achham, forcing early childhood centres and schools to merge or close. The district has lost thousands of students in recent years as villages shrink and families move away.
Key Points
- Early childhood centres in Achham are being merged or closed as enrolment drops and classrooms sit empty.
- Live births have declined across many local units in the district, according to DHIS-2 data and local officials.
- The number of schools in Achham has fallen from 526 to 416 after mergers, with student enrolment dropping by about 8,000 a year.
- Officials and parents say migration, smaller families and the search for better education are driving the decline.
