Rural Schools Face Declining Enrollment Despite Infrastructure Growth
Summary
Rural schools in Nepal have grown in infrastructure but are struggling with sharply declining student numbers. The article reflects on how village communities once fought to establish schools and now face empty classrooms, migration, and changing social priorities.
Key Points
- Village communities in areas like Bhimsen Thapa Rural Municipality once campaigned hard to establish secondary schools and expand access to education.
- Many of those schools now have far fewer students, with some primary schools closed and others operating with very low enrollment.
- The article links the decline to migration, foreign employment, smaller families, and urban attraction for education.
- It argues that the challenge has shifted from building schools to keeping them alive through quality and relevant education.
