There are proven links between successful primary or basic education for all and a country's economic growth, equity, and the health of its population. In developing countries, these links are widely understood yet the necessary investment in education is not being made. To explore these issues, Oxfam researchers have examined the situation in Nepal. Primary school enrolment in Nepal is low at 63 percent. For girls, rural inhabitants, and poor people the figure is lower.
Most children suffer from poor nutrition which has detrimental affects on their ability to learn.
Moreover, only half of this is earmarked for primary education. Schooling costs to parents such as books, stationery and uniforms are high. Opportunity costs arising from the loss of children's labour to their families often make education inaccessible to poor people. Two government initiatives, the Primary Education Development Project targeting teacher-training, and the Basic and Primary Education Project aiming to improve the 'access, quality, and management efficiency of primary education in Nepal' have so far been unsuccessful in tackling the problems. Oxfam researchers have found that NGO initiatives in Nepal have concentrated on non-formal education, pioneering approaches to literacy, empowerment, and education for life.