In 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake and a series of aftershocks destroyed 35,000 classrooms in Nepal. Since then, UWS has built 505 earthquake-resilient classrooms, across 60 schools, giving 11,500 students access to education.

An escalating crisis in education

In the remote communities of Nepal, poor access remains the biggest challenge to attending school. Many government facilities are located far from rural communities, meaning children must cross dangerous terrain to get to their nearest school. As a result, despite a reported nationwide enrolment rate of 97%, only a third of students who sign up in Grade 1 complete their primary education. Consequently, literacy rates remain among the lowest in the world – just 10% of people in rural populations can read and write.

Giving children local access to a classroom is an important first step. Now, we need to give as much focus to the bigger challenge of creating learning experiences that inspire children to stay in school.

More time in class. More possibility.

To improve attendance, UWS is working to make going to school part of everyday life for all children. This starts with building earthquake-resilient classrooms with WASH facilities that provide a safe space for learning. But it also includes developing an engaging and relevant curriculum and developing local teaching expertise through our Fellowship Programme.  We’re also delivering targeted support to children at-risk of dropping out of school. This includes providing school supplies, delivering holiday and evening classes, and providing sanitary kits and menstrual education for adolescent girls. Across Nepal, we’ve established 38 girls’ clubs and mothers’ groups, creating spaces for women and girls to share their experiences in a safe and welcoming environment.