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Muskan's Journey Back to Education: How accelerated learning is making dreams come true

A school girl sits on the floor and reads an open workbook.

Photo credit: CARE Nepal

Photo credit: CARE Nepal

Impact Magazine: Issue 31

By Rabindra Kumal and Indira Thapa  October 1, 2024

SDG 4: Quality Education

“UDAAN center has transformed my life,” says Muskan Khatun, a 15-year-old girl who dreams of becoming a teacher.

Muskan lives in Bhagawanpur Rural Municipality in southern Nepal and currently attends Laxmi Narayan Kausalya Secondary School in grade eight. Several years ago, Muskan had to assume all household responsibilities when her mother fell ill and her father had to migrate to India for work. Despite her strong interest in education, Muskan had to drop out of school after the 4th grade.

When her father returned to Nepal, Muskan was hesitant to rejoin school due to the long gap in her studies. However, she and her parents met with representatives from CARE Nepal and Dalit Janakalyan Yuba Club (DJKYC), a local social development organization working to address issues such as caste-based discrimination, child marriage, and domestic violence. Together, they encouraged Muskan and shared information on how she could recover lost time through the UDAAN learning center, which provides accelerated learning for out-of-school girls.

“I’ve gained academic knowledge and essential life skills such as leadership, decision-making, personal hygiene, and sanitation,” says Muskan. “I participated in initiatives like Balika Sabha [Adolescent Girls Forum] and Friends of UDAAN, which has enhanced my knowledge and skills and has helped me adapt to the school environment.”

Photo credit: CARE Nepal

After graduating from UDAAN, Muskan enrolled in grade seven in 2023 and has since progressed to the 8th grade. She continues to receive support through remedial classes in challenging subjects such as English, mathematics, and science. Muskan finds the school environment friendly and supportive, with teachers who motivate and assist her. She also receives additional coaching classes free of charge.

Muskan’s parents are overjoyed to see her attending school and dedicating time to her studies at home. They regularly engage with her school and teachers to monitor her progress, and her father has started a tailoring shop to help balance household responsibilities and income.

Muskan’s story shows the positive impact the UDAAN initiative has had on the community, helping change the culture to prioritize girls’ education. “Because of the UDAAN center, I have gained awareness on critical social issues like child marriage and gender discrimination, which has broadened my perspective,” Muskan says. She believes this support has revived her desire for higher studies and is confident her dream of becoming a teacher will come true.

UDAAN at a glance

Since 2014, CARE Nepal has been implementing an accelerated learning model called SOAR, known as “UDAAN” in Nepal, to improve access to education for out-of-school girls. UDAAN provides an intensive, 11-month curriculum, including leadership and life skills, for girls aged 10-14 who were unable to either start or finish primary school. The model helps them successfully “catch up” and transition to formal schools, works with parents to change their attitude towards girls’ education, and engages government structures to remove barriers girls face in accessing education.

UDAAN has been highly successful in Nepal, with 88% of girls who attended CARE’s accelerated learning centers transitioning into formal schools, and student literacy rates have skyrocketed from 25% to 72%.