Progress and lags in educational attainment in Nepal

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This chapter first reviews the progress made toward closing the gender gap in educational attainment among young people (ages 10–24) in Nepal, and then analyzes the characteristics of those young people who, as of 2016, were still deprived of any education. The data used for the analysis are based on national surveys conducted in 1991, 2001, 2011, and 2016. The data demonstrate that, since the early 2000s, Nepal has made remarkable progress toward closing the gender gap in educational attainment. By the early 2010s, educational attainment by female young people had risen sharply, such that the large gender gap that previously existed had narrowed significantly. However, as of 2016, the data also indicate that 3.1% of male youth and 7.5% of female youth were still deprived of any education at all. Further, those deprived of education were concentrated in the age group 20–24, married, belonged to poor households, represented ethnic minorities, and resided in particular geographic areas of the country. These findings imply two future challenges: (1) building upon the achievements made toward closing the gender gap in educational attainment and sustaining this success; and (2) eliminating obstacles to educational attainment for those who are still deprived of educational opportunity in Nepal.