As per the 2011 census, approximately 5.78 percent of the children in the district were deprived of school education. According to the census, around 8,000 of the total 79, 555 children aged five and 16 were not enrolled in schools. However, a recent study conducted by the District Education Office has found that only 4,602 children are out of school.

Education officials, however, are clueless no record regarding the status of around 1,400 children. “We are yet to learn the reason behind their absence from schools,” said District Education Officer Mani Prasad Khanal, adding that they must have migrated to Tarai districts with their families.

According to the DEO findings, the primary factors that deprived children of education are financial constraints faced by their families, ignorance of parents about education and lack of easy access to schools as well as quality education. The study found that most of the children deprived of education are from marginalised and communities such as Kumal, Bote and Dalits families.

According to the Regional Education Directorate, there are 30,160 children aged five to nine in Palpa. Officials said they have launched various programmes to increase enrolment of children in the district.