The ReAL Plan is leading to real change in children’s learning
UNICEF is working with the Government of Nepal to support 750,000 children at risk of falling behind in school
Kapilvastu, Nepal: Just last spring, third-grader Khusi from Shivaraj Municipality in Kapilvastu District was struggling with basic literacy and numeracy skills. The lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic had left her far behind, placing her in the ‘very low learning level’ category. Without support, she risked falling even further behind her classmates, or worse, dropping out of school entirely.
Khusi’s teacher, however, refused to let that happen.
Through dedicated, accelerated lessons, Sita Pun helped her student gain confidence in reading and numeracy. In just a few months, Khusi went from hesitantly identifying letters to reading full sentences. This progress ignited in her a newfound confidence.
Teacher Sita credits a UNICEF-supported training under the Government’s Recovery and Accelerated Learning (ReAL) Plan (2023-2028) for equipping her with the tools to support struggling learners like Khusi.
"The improvement I’ve seen in Khusi and many of my students in just three months has been one of the most rewarding moments of my teaching career," she says.
"I hope the end-of-year assessment will reflect just how far they’ve come."
In classrooms across Nepal, thousands of children like Khusi are getting a second chance at learning thanks to the ReAL Plan.
With support from the Let Us Learn (LuL) foundation, the European Union, and the Government of Finland, UNICEF is working with the Government of Nepal to scale up the Plan, enabling 750,000 students in Grades 3 to 8 to accelerate progress with acquiring foundational skills and regain lost learning.
Already, 858 trained teachers in Madhesh, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim are leading catch-up classes, helping children who once struggled to keep up find their footing in the classroom.
At Khusi’s school, 55 students from Grades 3 to 5 now receive 20 hours of targeted learning support each month. This need-based intervention is helping them rebuild their foundational skills and regain confidence in their education.
"We provide opportunities for students to catch up on missed lessons in an organized manner," says head teacher Lila Khanal Poudel. To keep children on track, the school actively monitors attendance, reaching out to families through phone calls, home visits, and parent meetings.
The local government is also stepping in to strengthen these efforts. Shivaraj Municipality’s education section is providing financial support to schools by printing diagnostic tools and conducting monitoring visits to ensure the success of catch-up classes. With UNICEF supporting Grades 3 to 5, the municipality has expanded the programme to include Grades 6 to 8, committing 500,000 rupees to further strengthen local schools.
This collaboration between UNICEF and the local government is transforming education for 10,242 children, including 5,405 girls. By tailoring lessons to each student’s needs, these efforts are not just closing learning gaps—they’re opening doors to brighter futures.
