A majority of the children in the remote VDCs of Gothadi, Dobhan, Jyamire, Rahawas, Mityal, Jhirubas, Bakanmalang, Phoksinghkot and Baldhengadhi, after attending primary schools, leave their  homes in search of job outside the district, some of them reach as far as India.    

It takes at least six hours of arduous walk through treacherous trails to reach the nearest higher secondary school from these VDCs, said Nar Bahadur Soum Magar, a villager from Mityal VDC.

“One has to rent room in VDCs that have higher secondary schools, if they want to continue the education,” Nar Bahadur said.    

But not everyone in these VDCs can afford to pay the rent for their children to be able to go to school. Most parents would rather have their children out of school. That way, the children will at least help their parents in household chores, out in the field or go leave their homes for job to support their families.

Although there are a few children like Guna Bahadur Ale Magar of  Gothadi VDC who walk five-six hours to reach their schools every morning. Guna Bahadur, who is also the chairman of a childern’s club in his village, said he and some of his friends usually set out for school on the wee hours of morning. It is already dark by the time they return home.

“We hope for the last period to be cancelled so that we could make it home before dark,” said Guna Bahadur.

 Chabilal Khangaha Magar, another student from Mityal VDC, said, “The trails are not easy to walk so we have to carry torchlights.”   

Sobha Bahadur Sinjali, headmaster of Laxmi Primary School of Gothadi VDC, said the student drop out rate among the children living in the Chure region, mainly because there are no schools nearby that offer secondary level education.   “It would help the children a lot, if the government set up secondary schools close to the region,” said Sinjali.