Sajina, a student in Sindhuli, looks forward to school each morning. Children of all ages now have new reasons to love their school.

Adding a gender-friendly toilet and a dedicated menstrual health restroom in the school has made a big difference for Sajina and her friends.

“There’s now a dedicated space to manage our periods at school. If we need to, we can rest, relax, or freshen up,” shares Sajina, a grade 10 student.

Previously, girls often had to miss school during their periods. “That’s no longer the case. The restroom makes managing our periods at school so much easier. It’s stocked with sanitary pads, and our teachers are more sensitive to our physical and mental health,” Sajina adds.

The restroom also features a sanitary pad disposal machine, ensuring cleanliness. “Now we have a proper place to dispose of used pads, and the school premises stay clean,” Sajina explains.

Garima, 15, knew menstruation was normal but still felt anxious during her period. In the past, severe cramps or headaches often forced her to miss school. She struggled to share her concerns.

“Things are much better now,” Garima says. “We no longer need to worry about missing school. There’s a safe space to change pads, rest during cramps, and dispose of used products discreetly.”

Their school recently introduced a Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) restroom, which has given the girls the confidence to stay in school during their periods.

Access to Water and Hygiene Facilities

The school also introduced a new drinking water system. Nabin, one of Sajina’s classmates, recalls when they had to leave school to find water. “If we got thirsty, we’d have to go far to get water,” he says.

Now, a filtered drinking water system has made life much easier. “It was so difficult before, but things have improved,” adds another student, Roshan.

Plan International Nepal has been instrumental in setting up MHM facilities in schools, which have significantly benefited female students.

Laxmi Koirala, a teacher at Garima’s school, notes, “Girls used to fear having their periods at school. They missed classes and faced harassment. The MHM rooms have ended their struggles.”

The project also includes orientations on menstrual health. “Girls now approach us without hesitation if they face any issues,” says Laxmi. The MHM rooms feature reading materials that educate students about menstrual hygiene.

Jenny Bista, a nurse at Garima’s school, highlights the impact: “The girls feel more comfortable staying at school during their periods, and they’re learning about MHM from the materials provided.”

In Danusha, an English teacher, Rashmi Gupta, is part of a newly formed Complaint Response Committee. The committee addresses students’ feedback and concerns, particularly benefiting female students.

Plan International Nepal supported Rashmi’s school in establishing a Gender-Responsive Quality Complaint Response Mechanism and educating students on reporting misbehaviour safely.

Plan International Nepal, in collaboration with partners, has established essential WASH and MHM facilities across various districts.

From July 2020 to July 2023, the organisation helped build 1,652 handwashing stations, 104 gender-friendly toilets, 55 disability-friendly toilets and 243 school sewerage systems.

Additionally, they repaired WASH and MHM facilities in over 200 schools and supported schools in creating Child Protection Policies and Codes of Conduct.

Plan International Nepal is creating safer, healthier, and more inclusive environments for students nationwide through these initiatives.

ICT in Education and STEAM

Dipsikha, a grade 10 student, eagerly looks forward to her computer classes. These classes in a separate lab provide a refreshing break from sitting in a classroom all day. Additionally, she is learning about Information Technology (IT), something she never thought possible in her remote school. “Until last year, I had only heard about IT. I didn’t know what it was. But now, I am learning about it," she shares excitedly.

Students like Dipsikha are now learning IT using laptops and computers in their Information Communication and Technology (ICT) labs. Since she started using IT to supplement her learning, Dipsikha's academic performance has improved.

“The use of ICT will be helpful for me in the future, too,” Dipsikha says confidently.

Plan International Nepal supports the information, communication, and technology (ICT) sector in community schools within its working areas. Over two years, ICT labs were established in 20 schools. Following the establishment of these labs, Plan International Nepal also trained teachers on the use and incorporation of ICT into regular teaching processes.

175 teachers from different schools were oriented on linking ICT with regular learning. Eighteen schools developed the infrastructure for STEAM education with the support of Plan International Nepal.

Sustainability and Inclusive Education

Plan International Nepal is collaborating with government agencies, partners, and school management committees to ensure the sustainability of its projects and programs. These efforts focus on strengthening the education system and fostering practices that continuously improve outcomes.

The primary goal of sustainability in inclusive education is to build ownership among governments, schools, and communities to ensure quality education for all children. Plan International Nepal envisions its partnerships leading to the government's development of contextual programmes and policies, alongside allocating resources to the education sector.

Schools are expected to use resources like infrastructure, educational materials, and technology to foster inclusive and supportive learning environments for every student, including those with disabilities.

Key Achievements

Plan International Nepal supported the implementation of the federal government’s "Recovery and Accelerated Learning (ReAL) Plan," a supplementary initiative under the School Education Sector Plan. This programme was introduced to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on education in community schools.

The programme was executed in six districts, involving representatives from the local Education Department and school teachers to address diverse challenges.

Approximately 3,900 students participated in accelerated learning classes, helping to bridge gaps caused by disrupted schooling.

Plan International Nepal assisted 23 local governments in formulating education policies and plans aligned with federal standards to enhance local education systems.

Over three years, 13 local governments developed local curricula. For instance, Barbardiya Municipality in Bardiya District created a 10-year education strategy, including a curriculum in the Tharu language to support linguistic diversity.

Through these initiatives, Plan International Nepal continues to promote inclusive, sustainable, and quality education for children across Nepal.