This article concentrates on primary education, defined as classes one to five, in Nepal since 1980, which is also the main focus of government policies. It also analyzes secondary data from population censuses from UNDP's recent Human Development report for Nepal (1998) and from the ministry of education on literacy and enrollment rates of boys and girls in several types of schools and in different classes for the 75 districts. The article includes 8 maps of Nepal. (Rajeev Ranjan Singh 2007-03-07)