Global

Whether children are out of school, at risk of dropping out, or struggling to stay engaged in formal classrooms, the challenge of keeping every learner in education is widespread. For the millions of children and youth who are not in school, accelerated education programmes (AEPs) have proven to be an effective approach to catch learners up on foundational skills and integrate them into formal education. Education.org’s (2022) AEP synthesis identified nine characteristics of effective AEPs, centring on government ownership and the need to embed AEP policies and guidelines into the formal school architecture. This (2025) Transitions synthesis completes the story, adding a tenth characteristic that is a crucial lever of success for all AEP models and transition pathways, especially those to formal schooling: close collaboration between AEPs, formal schools, and communities. It presents the STEP Framework, for Supporting Learners Through Evidence-based Planning (STEP), which follows the AEP learner on their transition journey, not just until they enter formal school, but ensuring they thrive within it (see image below).

The lack of access to diverse, high-quality educational evidence—particularly localised research and non-academic insights, published and unpublished—perpetuates systemic inequities in education policymaking and practice. Despite recent efforts to localise research agendas in the field of education and international development, methodological and practical challenges hinder equity...

As governments face mounting pressure to tackle the urgent challenge of out of school children with increasingly constrained budgets, decision makers need clear guidance on policy and implementation of accelerated education initiatives.

As decision-makers decide whether to embark on AEPs, strengthen existing AEPs, or exercise greater oversight over AEPs, this evidence synthesis offers six major insights to help guide policy actions and guidance as well as implementation.