Evidence from a 19-year longitudinal study on accelerated education

• In Event: Learning for Peace: Accelerated Education as a Pathway to Stability and Opportunity for Out-of-School Youth

Proposal

This paper presents findings from a retrospective study of the Udaan accelerated education program, implemented in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Udaan provided residential learning opportunities for out-of-school adolescent girls, aiming to reintegrate them into formal education and empower them to make informed life choices. The study traces the life trajectories of Udaan graduates between 1999 and 2018, examining educational attainment, self-confidence, and decision-making in personal domains such as marriage, health, and career.
In a district where 53.7% of elementary-level dropouts are girls and child marriage affects over 30% of girls before age 18, Udaan offered a transformative alternative— providing a foundational and basic education over a one year period via a residential learning center for out-of-school adolescent girls between the ages of 10-14, and then reintegrating them into formal education and equipping them with life skills and agency. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Udaan graduates experienced delayed marriages, improved health outcomes, and greater agency in navigating social norms—despite limited formal documentation. The study examines multiple dimensions of girls’ lives, highlighting key junctures where their trajectories shifted. It also explores the extent to which accelerated education influenced outcomes beyond mainstreaming, shaping both - their life choices and future opportunities. . This presentation will share the results of this underway longitudinal research.

In a divided world where gender, poverty, and education intersect, Udaan demonstrates how accelerated education can foster peace and equity. The Udaan model presents strategies for fostering social responsibility and care for others, encouraging young people to take responsibility for those around them. By equipping marginalized girls with foundational skills and confidence, Udaan contributes to more peaceful communities and resilient futures. This presentation argues for the expansion of accelerated education as a peacebuilding strategy, especially in contexts of deep social exclusion and educational disruption.

Authors

• Amanda Moll, CARE USA

• priyanka saxena, CARE