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| Ministry of Education | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Education | Mahabir Pun |
| National education budget (2022) | |
| Budget | $122.78 million |
| General details | |
| Primary languages | Nepalese |
| System type | Federal, province and private |
| Literacy (2021) | |
| Total | 76.3% |
| Male | 83.6% |
| Female | 69.4% |
| Enrollment | |
| Total | 6,373,003 |
| Primary | 4,030,045 |
| Secondary | 2,195,835[a] |
| Post secondary | 147,123 |
| Attainment | |
| Secondary diploma | 46.2% |
| Post-secondary diploma | Unavailable |
| |
Education in Nepal has been modeled on theIndian system, which is in turn based on that of the oldBritish Raj.[1] TheNational Examinations Board supervises all standardized tests, while theMinistry of Education is responsible for managing educational activities in Nepal. The National Center for Educational Development is Nepal's teacher-training body.[2]
In 2021, Nepal's literacy rate was 76.3% (83.6% for males and 69.4% for females).[3] TheApril 2015 Nepal earthquake destroyed schools and severely impacted the nation's ability to keep its remaining schools open.
From its inception, education in Nepal was modeled on theIndian system, which had evolved from the oldBritish Raj.[1] Nepal's education system was historically based onhome-schooling andgurukulas,[4] was similar to the former Indian system in which pupils would learn either in their own homes or with priests or Gurus. Before Nepal was declared a democratic country, the general public had no access to formal education. Nepal's first formal school,Durbar High School, was established in 1854 and intended for only the elite. The birth ofNepalese democracyin 1951 opened its classrooms to a more diverse population.[4]
In 1971, Nepal's national governmentnationalized schooling, although it reversed this in 1980. It subsequently legalizedfor-profit schools.[5]
During the 1990s and early 21st century, the influence of private schools in Nepal grew significantly.[5][6]: 49 In 2011, the Nepalese government passed a law imposing a 5% tax on private schools.[5] However, the Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation Nepal, an organization representing private schools, successfully protested the law, leading to its repeal.[5] The organisation also successfully protested a 2012 ruling by theSupreme Court of Nepal ordering a three-year moratorium ontuition increases.[5] Nepal's national government has attempted to introducetuition-free andcompulsory education on multiple occasions during the early 21st century.[5][7]
As of 2010, there were approximately 49,000 schools in Nepal,[citation needed] and, as of 2025, 301,000 teachers.[7] In 2001, Nepal's literacy rate was 48.6% (62.7% for males and 32.9% for females),[8] which increased in 2021 to 71.2% (81% for males and 63.3% for females).[3] As of 2018, slightly more than 18% of schools in Nepal are privately owned.[5]
Primary education in Nepal consists of grades one through eight, while secondary levels are grades nine to twelve. Pre-primary education is available in some areas, and students usually begin grade one at age five. ABasic Level Examination (BLE) is given in grade eight while a nationalSecondary Education Exam (SEE), previously known as aSchool Leaving Certificate (SLC), is conducted at the end of grade 10. The School Leaver's Certificate is given at the completion of the Grade 12 examination. TheNational Examinations Board supervises all BLE, SEE and 12th grade exams.
Depending upon the educational stream and degree subject, a bachelor's degree typically requires two years of study. Some universities offerM.Phil. and post-graduate diplomas.
Vocational education begins after basic level education, and students can follow a two-year curriculum leading to a Technical School Leaving Certificate.[9] In addition to the formal track, one-year programs focusing on skill development are also available.[9]
TheHuman Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI)[10] finds that Nepal is fulfilling only 83.5% of what it should for theright to education based on its level of income.[11] Taking Nepal's income level into consideration, the nation is achieving 95.4% of what should be possible for primary education but only 71.5% for secondary education.[11]
Although theJhapa District had a 99.33% literary rate in 2014,[12] many children in remote villages do not have access to education past the primary level.[13] Students often leave primary schools after they learn to read and write, but without any additional education.[13] TheApril 2015 earthquake destroyed schools and severely impacted the nation's ability to keep its remaining schools open.
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TheMinistry of Education, led by the Minister of Education, is responsible for managing educational activities in Nepal. The ministry, as a part of the government, is headed by the Secretary of Education and consists of a central national office responsible for policy development, planning, monitoring, and evaluation as well as other offices at the regional and district levels.
The National Center for Educational Development[2] is Nepal's teacher-training body. It has 34 educational training centers to provide pedagogical support for teachers.
Nepal has two primary types of schools: community, which are public and receive government grants, and institutional, private, self-funded schools that are also non-profit trusts or companies.
Nepal's first college wasTri-Chandra College, founded in 1918, and until 1985,Tribhuvan University was the country's only university.
Medical education in Nepal is regulated by theMedical Council of Nepal. To be eligible for admission toMBBS courses in Nepalese medical colleges, students must pass the higher secondary examination in science.
Medical education in Nepal is highly controversial as many qualified students are turned away in lieu of competitive marks. Corruption is rampant with schools accepting students based on connections to established figures or illicit donations, and the "hidden" tuition, as it's referred, is the additional cost of bribing officials in the education and healthy ministry with some students paying triple the tuition fees for enrollment.[14][15][16][17]
Dr.Govinda K.C. is a staunch supporter of medical education reform in Nepal and has long advocated to break the education "mafia" present in the system.[16][17]
Engineering colleges also exist throughout Nepal, with most admitting local students through an entrance exam and foreign students after an interview.[citation needed]
Nepal's oldest engineering school is Tribhuvan University's Institute of Engineering, while Nepal's first private engineering college to offer bachelor's- and master's-level courses is the Engineering College inChangunarayan.[citation needed]
Nepal ranks 11th in countries of origin for international students in the United States. According to "Open Doors 2009", an annual report on international academic mobility published by theInstitute of International Education, the number of Nepali students enrolled in U.S. institutions of higher education increased by 29.6 percent from 8,936 in the 2007–08 academic year to 11,581 in 2008–09. In the 2006–07 academic year, Nepal ranked 13th among countries of origin of international students.
The United States is the preferred destination for Nepalese students wishing to study abroad because of the quality and prestige associated with an American degree as well as access to comprehensive, accurate information about study in the U.S. throughEducationUSA offices in Nepal and increased efforts by American colleges and universities to attract Nepalese students. However, "a culture of disrespect" by U.S. Embassy staff has been reported.
According to theAustralian Department of Education, there are currently more than 53,170 Nepalese students studying in Australia in 2023, placing Nepal as its third-largest source of international students, following China and India.[citation needed]
Public schools in Nepal suffer from poor infrastructure, low-quality teachers, political inference in teacher appointments, and weak management and regulation.[6]: 49 Public school students in Nepal have historically under performed compared to their private school peers on the country'sSchool Leaving Certificate, a major secondary school exam.[6]: 60 Nepal's efforts to reform public education have failed on numerous occasions.[5][6]: 49 In 2025, public school teachers went ona nationwide strike in response to a proposed education reform bill in parliament.[18]
Private schools in Nepal face little regulation[6]: 49 and have historically ignored government laws and court rulings unfavorable to them.[5] They also hold considerable influence in national politics,[5][6]: 49 as elected lawmakers are often involved in owning or running them.[5]
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