Context:
According to the ASER 2023, nearly 43% of children in the 14-18 age group cannot read sentences in English, while among their rural counterparts, 25% struggle to read a Class 2 level text in their respective regional language.
Relevance:
GS II: Education
Dimensions of the Article:
- Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023 Overview
- Key Findings
- Significance of the ASER 2023
Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023 Overview:
Background:
- ASERs, conducted by NGO Pratham since 2005, track trends in school enrollment, attendance, and academic abilities of children aged 6 to 14.
- These reports are instrumental in shaping government policies.
Survey Details:
- ASER 2023 covered 28 districts in 26 states, surveying 34,745 youths aged 14-18.
- One rural district in each major state was surveyed, except Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, where two districts were included.
Survey Focus: Youths were assessed on:
- Basic reading, math, and English abilities.
- Application of basic skills to everyday calculations.
- Reading and understanding written instructions.
- Real-life financial calculations.
Key Findings
Reading Proficiency:
- 26.5% couldn’t read a Class 2-level textbook in their regional language.
- 42.7% couldn’t read sentences in English.
- Of those reading sentences, 26.5% didn’t understand the meaning.
Mathematics:
- 56.7% couldn’t solve a simple 3-digit by 1-digit division problem.
- 45% demonstrated basic arithmetic proficiency.
Everyday Calculations:
- 85% could measure length using a scale when starting from 0 cm.
- Dropped to 39% when starting from a different point.
Academic Streams and Technology:
- 55.7% enrolled in Arts/Humanities, 31.7% in STEM, and 9.4% in Commerce.
- 89% had a household smartphone, and 92% knew how to use it.
- Males were twice as likely to own smartphones and spent more time on them.
- 90.5% used social media, with more males (93.4%) than females (87.8%).
- Only about half of social media users were familiar with online safety settings.
Significance of ASER 2023:
Persistent Educational Challenges:
- Over nearly two decades, ASER reports consistently highlighted deficiencies in foundational skills like reading and basic arithmetic among elementary school children.
Extension to Older Age Group:
- ASER 2023’s focus on youths aged 14-18 reveals a similar gap in learning outcomes at higher education levels.
- Even at Class 10 and higher secondary levels (Classes 11 and 12), teenagers struggle with basic reading and arithmetic skills.
Skill Deficit in Adolescents:
- The report underscores a substantial skill deficit among adolescents, who are just a few years away from entering the job market.
- This points to a concerning scenario where educational challenges persist and impact students into their teenage years.
-Source: The Hindu
