Guide to the Accelerated Education Principles

For children and young people who have missed out on education or had their education interrupted by conflict and crisis, poverty and marginalization, accelerated education programmes (AEPs) are a way to realize this commitment. AEPs offer equivalent certified competencies to primary education, enabling a return to formal education at appropriate grades, or transition into work or other training. A large number of donor agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and governments have set up AEPs. There is a wide variety of such programmes, of differing quality and effectiveness, but no existing standards. The inter-agency Accelerated Education Working Group (AEWG) reviewed and distilled a set of global good practices and guidelines for AEPs.

This guide helps establish what is considered good practice, and is intended to evolve into a standard. Existing AEPs may not reach this standard. However, it is hoped that programmes will evolve and strengthen to meet the AEP principles of good practice set out here. These principles can also be used for advocacy purposes to promote improvements in AEPs.