Catch-up programs are targeted education interventions designed to help learners reach expected grade-level competencies after experiencing interruptions in their education. In Afghanistan, these programs are often implemented through accelerated approaches such as ALP or ALC, although many organizations still report them separately as a distinct "catch-up" modality within the Education Cluster framework.
Catch-up classes focus on children who have fallen behind due to displacement, conflict, school closures, poverty, or prolonged absence from school. They provide structured and time-bound instructional support aimed at addressing specific learning gaps rather than delivering a full compressed curriculum.
The primary purpose of catch-up program is to bridge learning loss and restore foundational competencies so that children can successfully reintegrate into formal schools or transition to higher grade levels. These programs typically prioritize core subjects such as literacy and numeracy, ensuring that learners regain essential skills needed for academic progression.
Catch-up classes are frequently implemented alongside Community-Based Education (CBE) and Accelerated Learning Programs (ALP), serving as a flexible support mechanism within both emergency and development education responses. By preventing long-term learning setbacks, they play a critical role in protecting children's educational pathways in crisis-affected contexts.