New Delhi, India – The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023, titled ‘Beyond Basics,’ has brought to light concerning learning gaps among rural Indian youth, particularly in the age group of 14 to 18 years. The survey, conducted in 28 districts across 26 states, covering 34,745 youths, highlighted that 42% of children in this age group cannot read easy sentences in English, and more than half struggle with simple division problems.
Key Findings:
•42% of rural children aged 14-18 cannot read easy English sentences.
•Over 50% of students in this age group struggle with division problems.
•25% cannot read a Class 2 level text fluently in their regional language.
•Only 43.3% can correctly solve 3-digit by 1-digit division problems, a skill expected in classes 3 and 4.
•57.3% can read sentences in English, with 73.5% of them understanding their meanings.
•ASER reports are utilized by the government in policy formulation.
Gender Disparities:
•Females outperform males (76% vs. 70.9%) in reading a Class 2 level text in their regional language.
•Males fare better than females in arithmetic and English reading.
Everyday Task Competency:
•45% can calculate the number of hours a child has slept based on bedtime and wake-up time.
•85% can correctly calculate the length of an object placed at the ‘0’ mark on a ruler.
•Less than 40% can give the right answer when the object is moved to another position on the ruler.
•65.1% can read functional instructions on a packet of ORS solution.
Challenges and Recommendations:
•Low levels of foundational numeracy impact everyday calculations, financial computations, and practical situations.
•Approximately 25% of youths in the 14-18 age group may need catch-up efforts for foundational literacy and numeracy.
•National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 acknowledges the need for catch-up programs for those falling behind academically.
ASER Background:
ASER is a nationwide citizen-led household survey that provides insights into children’s schooling and learning in rural India. The 2023 survey delves into various aspects, including youth activities, reading and math abilities, digital awareness, smartphone access, and usage.
Despite trends in basic learning remaining relatively unchanged over the past decade, both ASER and the National Achievement Survey (NAS) emphasize the urgent need for improving basic learning levels among elementary school children. NEP 2020 reinforces the necessity for children to acquire basic reading and arithmetic skills by Std III.
ASER, initiated in 2005, has been a crucial tool for assessing the state of education in rural India, offering valuable data for educational policymakers and stakeholders.
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