39% basic level school dropout in Karnali: Survey

BY RAJANI YOGI,Surkhet, Feb. 9: The situation of children in Karnali Province is concerning. Various studies have shown that children are being deprived of education and the dropout rate is increasing.

According to Save the Children’s Baseline Survey 2024, almost 39 per cent of children from grades 1 to 5 in Karnali had dropped out of school. More girls than boys have abandoned studies. 

Additionally, girls are found weak in studies. Only, 23.64 per cent of girls were able to score 45 marks in mathematics and one of the children with disabilities achieved this score. The survey also revealed that only 12.4 per cent of girls in grades 1 to 5 in Karnali have repeated their classes. 

In comparison to 2023, the budget allocated to children’s issues increased by 7.36 per cent in 2024. The survey found that 47 per cent of parents are knowledgeable about parenting, while 57 per cent of children have experienced physical or mental violence. Only 14 per cent of children reported feeling safe in their communities.

Similarly, 11.36 per cent of children with disabilities felt safe in their communities. Additionally, 61 per cent of children have a Facebook account and among them, 17 per cent reported experiencing violence. 

Save the Children conducted the baseline survey in the community schools of four municipalities across four districts. They include Chamunda Bindrasaini Municipality in Dailekh, Tatopani Rural Municipality in Jumla, Shubhakalika Rural Municipality in Kalikot and Chhedagad Municipality in Jajarkot.

During a regional discussion on children’s issue organised in collaboration with the Women’s Parliamentary Forum for Girls and Inclusive Education, Joint Campaign for Child Rights and Save the Children held in Birendranagar recently, stakeholders emphasised the need for increased investment in the children's sector. 

Provincial Assembly Member Kalyani Khadka stressed the need for increased investment in the children's sector for a better future, urging the government to prioritise education. Another Provincial Assembly Member, Tulsa Malla pointed out that the state should focus on increasing investment in children.

Urmila Bishwokarma from the Women’s Parliamentary Network for Girls and Inclusive Education emphasised the need to focus more on girls' education. She said that girls tend to acquire less education than boys, leading to a higher risk of falling victim to violence later in life. 

Minister of State for Physical Infrastructure and Urban Development, Gamata BK, said that the government has prioritised education, including the development of educational infrastructure, while shifting focus to improving educational quality.

In Karnali, children make up 40 per cent of the total population. The province has a total population of 1,688,412, with 677,048 of them being children, as per the 2021 census. Among these, 345,429 are boys and 331,556 are girls.

Out of the total number of children in the province, 304,184 are in need of special protection or alternative care for various reasons. 

According to the National Child Welfare Council, 41,000 children in Karnali are victims of child marriage, which has deprived them of various rights.