Long years have gone in the academic history of Nepal since schools were established. However, neither the government and school authorities nor the guardians have kept keen eyes on formulating and regulating environmental safety of schools located along roadsides, where children are exposed to smoke, dust, and noise pollution.
Hundreds of schools in the Kathmandu Valley and across the country operate without regard for the severe health risks posed by environmental hazards. Many are situated near busy roads, subjecting thousands of students to harmful pollution. “Everything has gone unnoticed without considering the risks of the environment issues,” said the general public.
There are some 2,000 schools with about 1.5m children in the Kathmandu Valley. There are about 35,000 schools including 7,000 private schools across the country, where around 7m children study in the country, according to the government reports.
Existing laws vaguely address general concerns like maintaining greenery and prohibiting tobacco and alcohol sales near schools. However, these regulations remain largely unimplemented, rendering them ineffective.
“We don’t have specific laws and rules about schools and their location regarding environmental issues of smoke, dust and noise pollution,” said Suprabhat Bhandary, president of the Guardians’ Association Nepal. “General laws regarding environmental issues for schools do not address the problem properly. Schools alongside the highways either should be relocated, shifted to safer places or merged to another one.”
Numerous institutions, including Ratna Rajya Secondary School (Baneshwor), Padmodaya Public School (Putalisadak), and Durbar High School (Durbarmarg), are located in high-pollution zones with heavy vehicle emissions. Many more schools across the country face similar risks.
Students in these areas are constantly exposed to toxic air, noise, and dust. Even young children inhale hazardous pollutants daily—a problem prevalent along highways nationwide. International standards suggest that noise and air pollution severely affect areas up to 500 meters from major roads, yet schools continue to operate in these zones.
“Classrooms near busy roads are contaminated with vehicle smoke, dust, and noise,” said Suprabhat Bhandary, representative from the guardians’ associations.
Since the 1990s, private schools have proliferated, often operating in cramped rented buildings without green spaces—even along heavily polluted roads. A report indicates that most schools in Kathmandu are roadside, disregarding the health impacts on children. The government remains indifferent, failing to enforce laws ensuring a safe learning environment. While private schools prioritize enrollment, public schools largely ignore environmental concerns.
Waste management is another pressing issue. “Neither families nor schools teach children proper environmental responsibility, leading to indiscriminate waste disposal,” Bhandari noted.
Many school administrators are either unwilling to discuss environmental regulations or unaware of them altogether. Yet, they acknowledge that students frequently suffer from respiratory issues, throat pain, coughing, and conjunctivitis. Teachers, too, face similar health problems.
“The government must enforce anti-pollution measures, and private schools must comply,” Bhandari stressed. “Authorities must be held accountable for protecting the younger generation.”
Doctors warn that pollution’s effects on children can be severe, impacting respiratory health, skin, concentration, and even causing long-term cardiovascular and neurological damage. The World Bank estimates 26,000 annual premature deaths in Nepal due to air pollution, with other reports citing over 42,000.
Despite these dangers, no detailed study has assessed pollution’s impact on Nepali schoolchildren. Researchers must investigate its effects on both children and adults to gauge the true scale of harm.
The atmospheric air in the Kathmandu Valley and major cities of the country consists of contaminations with toxins such as carbons, nitrate, sulphate, ammonia, carbon mono-oxide, lead and carbon particles. Health experts warn these particles contribute to 72 percent of cardiovascular disease risk, 14 percent to lung damage and 14 percent to cancer risks issues.
According to the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC), air pollution levels in major and busy intersections stanare eight times higher than the national standard, which is already double the international limit.
Yet, no responsible ministry—Forest and Environment, Education, or Health—has taken meaningful action to address these threats or safeguard public health.
