Baglung, June 12 -- Children in remote settlements of Tamankhola Rural Municipality-6 in Baglung are forced to undertake a gruelling daily journey of up to four hours each way to attend secondary school, with many relying on rented accommodation or abandoning studies altogether due to the distance.

Yogesh Chhantyal, a Year 9 student from Bhitriban, lives about four hours from Shanti Secondary School in Khunkhani. Unable to commute daily, he rents a room in Khunkhani village in Ward 5 and studies there, cooking for himself while staying away from home.

His friends Kristi Chhantyal, Sharmila Rasaili and Susmita Rasaili walk for around three hours to reach school from Narjakhani, leaving home by 7:00 am. During winter, they rent rooms near...