Kathmandu, March 17 -- Formal education in schools and universities became available to ordinary Nepalis only 70 years ago. But even then women were not encouraged to get an education.

The 1971 Education Plan laid out a strategy to raise literacy levels, and encouraged girls' enrollment in schools. Over the decades, female teachers were added to school faculties, girls were given scholarships and free basic education and women's rights were enshrined in the Constitution.

The progress is undeniable: Nepal now boasts near-equal enrollment rates for both boys and girls at primary level. However, dropout rates for young women is still high in secondary and higher education.

The female literacy rate is 69.4% compared to 83.6% for males. So...