Access to Education

The right to an education is not universally upheld in Nepal, even though it is enshrined in articles 28 and 29 of the CRC. Discrimination is prevalent against children from low castes, ethnic minorities, children with disabilities and girls. However, encouraging movements have begun in recent years with the express commitment towards providing education for all of Nepal s children. The National Education for All campaign and Nepal s ratification of the CRC represent two important steps towards Nepal s education goals. However, ensuring access to education and maintaining educational standards in Nepal remains a big challenge, as status quo services and programmes are woefully inadequate.

As a result of Save the Children's involvement in gender discrepancy initiatives, the Education for All campaign and the disadvantaged children education project, more and more children are enrolling in primary school and fewer are dropping out. Alternative approaches to education, such as out-of-school children education programmes, including a school outreach programme, and flexible hour schooling have reached out to marginalised children, further improving programme results. Much work also needs to be done to improve the quality of primary school education, as a lack of relevant and poor quality teaching materials are still the main educational issues in the impact areas. Similarly access to early childhood development programmes is limited because children under five are deprived of age relevant stimulation, children who need improvement the most lack access to quality programmes.