Nepal education system challenges

Nepal is facing significant hurdles in its education sector, specifically regarding student nutrition and academic performance. In the 2026/27 fiscal year, the government allocated Rs 9.537 billion to support school meal programs for approximately 2.8 million children. However, administrators report that the daily allowance of Rs 20 per student is insufficient due to rising food prices and staff shortages, leading some schools to substitute nutritious meals with dry snacks like noodles.

Simultaneously, large-scale investments in teacher professional development have not yielded expected academic results. Despite a Rs 2.67 billion investment in teacher training over four years, national assessments indicate widespread proficiency gaps. Data from the National Assessment of Student Achievement (NASA) shows that only 22 percent of Grade 5 students met minimum mathematics benchmarks. Similar deficiencies persist in secondary school, with high percentages of Grade 10 students failing to meet minimum standards in mathematics, science, Nepali, and English.