Basic schools in Nepal encompass Grades 1 to 8 and are structured into two distinct phases: Lower Basic (Grades 1–5) and Upper Basic (Grades 6–8). This level of education is foundational and typically caters to children aged 5 to 12 years. Students complete their basic education by appearing in the Basic Level Examination (BLE) at the end of Grade 8, which qualifies them to enter the secondary level.
Of Nepal’s total 35,447 schools, 23,905 (67.4%) provide education only up to the basic level. Among them, the majority—20,085—are community schools, including those operated by religious institutions. The remaining 3,820 (16.0%) are institutional (private) schools that also operate solely at the basic level. Additionally, many secondary schools in Nepal offer education from Grades 1 to 8 in conjunction with secondary levels.
Therefore, the database and statistics presented on Edusanjal include all schools that provide basic education—both those that end at Grade 8 and those that also offer secondary education.