May 22, Dolpa – With the onset of the cordyceps collection season in the Himalayan district of Dolpa, most schools in the area have been forced to close. Students enrolled in community schools have started accompanying their parents to the highland collection sites, leading to the shutdown of educational institutions. Teachers report that since the beginning of May, student attendance in community schools has significantly declined. In some schools, the number of students attending has dropped to nearly zero, forcing a complete halt to teaching activities.
According to locals, cordyceps collection in Dolpa is not just a seasonal activity but serves as the primary source of income for many families. The earnings from cordyceps support household expenses throughout the year, children’s education, and daily livelihoods. This economic dependence compels even school-aged children to accompany their parents to the collection sites in the highlands. This year, all cordyceps collection areas in the district are scheduled to open from May 23 onwards. As the collection period approaches, students leaving schools to head to the collection areas has severely impacted school operations.
Prem KC, principal of Sunsko Saraswati Secondary School in Tripurasundari Municipality Ward No. 3, stated that with students ceasing to attend classes, they were compelled to close the school. He explained, “Almost all the students went to collect cordyceps. Currently, there are no students coming to school, so closing it was necessary.” Similarly, Gangaram Kathayat, a teacher at Mukuteshwar Secondary School in Tripurasundari Municipality Ward No. 6, also confirmed that the cordyceps collection season forced their school to close.
Govinda Gharti, head of the education section of Kaike Rural Municipality, said that although the local government planned to keep schools open, the absence of students ultimately made closure unavoidable. “We tried to keep the schools operational, but since students did not attend, we had no choice but to close them,” Gharti said. He further noted that this problem recurs annually during the cordyceps collection season, emphasizing the need for long-term solutions.
In Dolpa, cordyceps collection typically takes place from the second week of May through the second week of July, lasting about a month. During this period, thousands of local residents venture to the highland collection areas. Teachers acknowledge that while the income from cordyceps collection helps improve the economic conditions of many families, it has a direct negative impact on children’s education.
