Schools are driving Gender Equality in Sudurpashchim

Written by:

Tripti Chaudhary, Local Coordinator in Equity in Education

Manoj Bhandari, Local Coordinator in Education Planning and Budgeting

Gender equality is a human right. It means that people of all genders have the same rights, responsibilities, opportunities, and protection in every part of life. A person’s access to resources and opportunities should never be limited by their gender. 

Nepal has made a strong commitment to promote gender equality and end all forms of discrimination. This includes discrimination based on caste, ethnicity, disability, region, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Nepal is also committed to reducing inequality, protecting human rights, building inclusive societies, and advancing gender equality through the 17 Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. However, more work is still needed to fully achieve these goals. 

In Sudurpashchim, girls’ participation measured by the net enrollment rate (NER) in early childhood education and development is above the national average, while the net enrollment rate for girls in secondary education (Grades 9 to 12) is marginally below the national average. Nationally, the enrollment rate for girls in early childhood education is 70.3%, compared to 72.4% in Sudurpashchim. At the secondary level (Grades 9 to 12), the national enrollment rate for girls is 56.1%, while in Sudurpashchim it is 56.0%. Across Nepal, 82.4% of girls complete basic education, meaning they complete Grade 8.

Lower participation rates in Sudurpashchim are linked to poverty, early marriage, school dropout, a lack of inclusive learning environments, and limited basic infrastructure in schools. In addition, many schools do not have functional sanitation and handwashing facilities for girls. Limited awareness of hygiene practices and weak management of these facilities make the situation worse. This affects girls’ attendance, especially during menstruation. 

Women are also underrepresented among teaching staff in Sudurpashchim, although there has been some improvement in recent years. Currently, female teachers make up 29.7 percent of all teachers in the province. Increasing the number of female teachers can help reduce gender inequality and provide important role models for students. 

Some schools in Sudurpashchim have started appointing focal persons who focus on gender-sensitive and inclusive education. These focal persons support students, teachers, and parents in addressing gender-related issues. Schools are also taking steps such as promoting the meaningful participation of girls, engaging parents to improve attendance, and establishing complaints and feedback mechanisms. These practices help strengthen gender equality in schools in Sudupaschim. 

TECSES’s office in Sudurpashchim has been operational since early 2026. In this short time, we have identified gender equality in education as a key priority in the province. We are working with federal, provincial, and local authorities to improve inclusive and quality teaching and learning in classrooms. 

To us, equal access to education for both girls and boys is not only important but a basic human right and a foundation for long term development. Educating girls is one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty. When girls receive quality education, families are healthier, incomes increase, and communities become stronger. Education also enables women to take leadership roles and participate actively in different sectors, supporting overall social and economic progress. 

Schools play a key role in challenging harmful gender stereotypes and creating equal opportunities for all learners. 

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TECSES is a teacher education project in Nepal, supported by Finland and the European Union. We work to improve schools through teacher training and inclusion at the federal, provincial, and local levels of government, and Nepali universities.