Boys are dropping out of school in a significantly higher number than girls in Nepal, according to a new government report.

The Nepal Health and Demographic Survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and Population shows that 78 percent girls and 75 percent boys of the school-going age are enrolled in lower basic level (grade one to five). The rate of enrollment of boys further declines at the basic level.

While the girls’ enrolment in grade six to eight stood at 52 percent, only 44 percent boys of the higher basic level schooling age are enrolled. In the secondary level, the difference is lower, with 52 percent girls of the age group getting enrolled in schools and 49 percent boys of the same age group studying.

The report further states that 72 percent of children up to four years of age have been enrolled in schools. While 52 percent of them have joined Early Childhood Development, the remaining 20 percent are enrolled in grade one. The study was conducted among 14,845 girls and 4,913 boys from 13,786 households representing all the provinces.

Over the years, Nepal has made significant progress in school enrolment. But the lower retention rate remains a challenge. The government’s economic survey for the current fiscal year shows over two thirds of the students enrolled in grade 1 drop out of school by the time they reach grade 12, which is the final year of school education.

The report also says that the net enrolment rate for grade one stands at 97.1 percent, for basic level 96.1 percent and 57.4 for the secondary level.