KATHMANDU: The number of schools in Nepal has reached 35,055, according to the latest data from the National Planning Commission.
These include institutions operating with both public and private investment, with the private sector covering around 23 percent of school-level education through parental funding.
Nepal’s education sector has seen notable progress in recent years. The total enrollment rate in pre-primary education has reached 84.7 percent. Of the children who attended early childhood development programs, 66.9 percent have now moved on to Grade 1.
The Commission reports strong net enrollment rates across various levels of schooling: 96.9 percent for primary (grades 1–5), 92.7 percent for basic education (grades 1–8), and 46.4 percent for secondary education (grades 8–12). These figures reflect the country’s continued investment in educational infrastructure and policy improvements.
Retention rates also indicate progress, with 89.6 percent of students staying in school through Grade 5, and 77.9 percent through Grade 8. School repetition rates have declined to 3.8 percent in the lower primary level, 4.4 percent in the upper primary level, and 3.7 percent in the secondary level.
Currently, 7.21 million students are enrolled in basic and secondary levels, while 974 children are attending early childhood development programs.
Gender parity in education is nearing balance, with an index of 0.98 at the basic level and 1.01 at the secondary level.
Literacy rates have also improved significantly.
While the 2011 census recorded a 58 percent literacy rate among those aged 15 and above, the literacy rate for the 15–24 age group had climbed to 88.6 percent by the fiscal year 2017/18. As of now, 51 districts in Nepal have been declared literate.
The Commission attributes these achievements to consistent investment in the education sector and the expansion of school infrastructure across the country.
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