Significant Number of Nepali Children Out of Secondary School, New Survey Reveals

Kathmandu. Despite some progress in education and child safety in Nepal, a large number of children remain out of school at the secondary level, according to the Nepal Multiple Indicator Survey 2081-82, published by the National Statistics Office on Monday. The survey indicates that 13.2 percent of children in the secondary school age group (Grades 9-12) are not attending school.

The rate is slightly lower at the basic level, with 4.5 percent of children out of educational access in Grades 1-5 and 3.6 percent in Grades 6-8.

The survey also clearly highlights the impact of family circumstances and foreign employment on Nepali children. Approximately 33.2 percent of children under 17 have one or both parents residing abroad.

This impact of foreign employment is most pronounced in Gandaki Province, where 40.8 percent of children have parents working overseas, while the rate is lowest in Bagmati Province at only 21 percent. Furthermore, the data shows that 3.4 percent of children have lost one or both of their biological parents.

In terms of child safety and legal identity, Karnali Province achieved the best results in the country. Karnali Province ranks first in birth registration for children under five years old at 95.8 percent, whereas Koshi Province has the lowest registration rate at only 78.4 percent.

Overall, 85.4 percent of children nationwide were found to be registered at birth. The level of awareness among parents regarding the birth registration process has also reached 82.9 percent, which is a positive achievement in the field of child rights.

Meanwhile, public engagement in health insurance remains low. According to the statistics, only 17.8 percent of women and 19.6 percent of men in the 15 to 49 age group have health insurance. This situation is even weaker for children: only 15 percent of children aged 5 to 17 and 11.7 percent of children under five are covered by insurance.