Average annual cost of private educational institutions reaches Rs 12.2 million

KATHMANDU: The average annual operating cost of private educational institutions in Nepal has reached Rs 12.2 million, a recent government study shows.

Findings of the Nepal Education Institutions Survey 2023/24, unveiled by the National Statistics Office (NSO) on Tuesday, show significant disparities in expenditure across provinces and education levels. According to the study, educational institutions in Bagmati Province have the highest annual operating cost, while those in Karnali Province have the lowest.

The average annual expenditure of private institutions in Bagmati is Rs 21.2 million, followed by Rs 13 million in Gandaki and Rs 10.4 million in Lumbini. Koshi Province reported average annual spending of Rs 8.9 million, while Madhesh Province and Sudurpashchim Province recorded Rs 7 million and Rs 6.3 million, respectively. Karnali Province has the lowest average annual expenditure at Rs 5.4 million.

By level of education, higher education institutions incur the highest annual expenditure at around Rs 20 million, followed by secondary-level institutions (up to Grade 12) at Rs 18.8 million. Likewise, technical and vocational institutions spend an average of Rs 11.7 million annually, while pre-primary and primary schools record the lowest expenditure at approximately Rs 3.88 million.

The study also found that the average monthly tuition fee charged by non-government educational institutions across the country stands at around Rs 3,300. Bagmati Province has the highest average monthly fee at Rs 5,100, while Sudurpashchim Province has the lowest at around Rs 2,000.

Tuition fees tend to be lower at pre-primary and basic school levels and increase progressively through secondary and upper-secondary education. Higher education and technical-vocational institutions charge comparatively higher fees, according to the study.

Teachers and staff at private educational institutions receive an average monthly salary and allowance of approximately Rs 16,300. Bagmati Province again ranks highest with an average monthly salary of Rs 19,600, while Sudurpashchim Province has the lowest at Rs 13,400.

Among different education levels, higher education institutions offer the highest average monthly salary at Rs 21,600. In contrast, teachers and staff at pre-primary and primary schools receive the lowest average monthly compensation, averaging Rs 11,900.

For comparison, the monthly salary of teachers in government institutions ranges from Rs 28,000 to as high as Rs 65,000.