A task force formed by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology has recommended that schools with fewer students be preserved by reducing grade levels if needed. This recommendation was made by the Ministry's High-Level Position Review Task Force. After conducting a three-month study, the task force submitted its report to the Minister for Education, Science, and Technology, Bidya Bhattarai, a few days ago.
Considering that many community schools across the country are at risk of closure due to low enrollment, the task force has warned that closing or merging schools in the hill and mountain regions may lead to the complete depopulation of the remaining settlements. However, it has also stated that schools in urban areas, which are geographically close to one another, can be closed or merged as required, although this has not been mentioned in the written report.
According to one member of the task force, the Ministry was recommended to retain schools by reducing their grade levels and adopting the multi-grade teaching method, in which one teacher teaches students from multiple grades. The task force believes that this approach would help preserve schools and reduce the number of teachers and staff needed.
The member stated, “Even when schools with low student numbers are closed or merged, the students in that area, though few, face problems in accessing education. If they are forced to go elsewhere to study, entire settlements may become empty. It is better to preserve the schools by reducing their levels, which also helps implement the student’s constitutional right to education. Multi-grade teaching at lower levels means fewer teachers are needed.”
The Compulsory and Free Education Act, 2075, states that no student should be deprived of education. For this reason, even if the number of students is small, they must be taught, and students cannot be excluded from education. Hence, the task force has concluded that merging schools is not appropriate.
According to the task force’s recent study, 269 schools across the country have already adopted the multi-grade teaching method. However, government data shows that more than half of the country's community schools lack sufficient students.
Across Nepal, 27,990 community schools are in operation. Among them, 1,384 are traditional schools, including Sanskrit, Gumba, and Madrasa institutions. Of these, 15,965 schools have fewer than 100 students, which is more than half of the total number of community schools. According to the Ministry, 9,707 schools have between 100 and 500 students. There are 9,704 schools with fewer than 500 students. There are 1,636 schools with fewer than 1,000 students. There are 449 schools with fewer than 1,500 students. There are 136 schools with between 1,500 and 2,000 students. Only 100 schools have more than 2,000 students.
From early childhood development centers to the secondary level (including grades 11 and 12), a total of 8,587,206 students are studying across the country.
The government had formed the five-member Position Review Task Force under the coordination of former Education Secretary Dipendra Bikram Thapa. The task force prepared the report after three months of study. The report has been submitted to assist the Ministry in addressing current pressing issues such as adjustment and management of teacher and staff positions at the school level, classroom management, technical education, and instructor coordination based on practical realities.
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Total community schools in Nepal | 27,990 |
| Traditional schools (Sanskrit, Gumba, Madrasa, etc.) | 1,384 |
| Schools with fewer than 100 students | 15,965 |
| Schools with 100 to 500 students | 9,707 |
| Schools with fewer than 500 students | 9,704 |
| Schools with fewer than 1,000 students | 1,636 |
| Schools with fewer than 1,500 students | 449 |
| Schools with 1,500 to 2,000 students | 136 |
| Schools with more than 2,000 students | 100 |
| Schools using multi-grade teaching method | 269 |
| Total students (ECD to Grade 12) | 8,587,206 |
