Public education financing in Nepal (FY 2078/79–2083/84)

Nepal's public education financing shows a mixed trend, with nominal budget increases but a declining share of the national budget over a six-year period. From fiscal year 2078/79 to 2083/84, the education budget rose from approximately 180.04 billion Nepalese rupees to 218.30 billion. However, its proportion of the total national budget fell from over 11% to 10.28%. This decline is significant as Nepal aims to graduate from Least Developed Country status and implements its ten-year School Education Sector Plan. The country faces challenges in meeting international benchmarks, which recommend allocating 15-20% of public expenditure and 4-6% of GDP to education. Nepal's Constitution recognizes education as a fundamental right, supported by various acts and policies. The nation has also committed to Sustainable Development Goals 4 (quality education), 5 (gender equality), and 10 (reducing inequalities), alongside numerous international conventions emphasizing equitable and inclusive financing. The distributed financing structure across federal, provincial, and local governments in FY 2079/80 highlights a complex fiscal landscape. While absolute spending on education has grown, its relative priority within national spending has weakened, particularly as external assistance is expected to decrease.