ASER Report: CUES FOR REFORM
- The recently released Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) for 2023, titled 'Beyond Basics,' delves into the educational landscape of rural India, specifically focusing on 14-18-year-olds.
- This comprehensive report, conducted by civil society organisation Pratham, spans 28 districts in 26 states.
Enrollment Trends
- The report revealed a positive trend in enrollment, with 86.8% of 14-18-year-olds enrolled in educational institutions.
- Despite initial concerns related to pandemic-induced economic distress, more students are transitioning to secondary education.
- However, despite increased enrollment, the report identifies significant challenges in foundational skills, indicating a potential impact on the quality of the future labour force.
- Approximately a fourth struggle to read at a Grade 2 level text in the local language
- Over half face difficulties with arithmetic skills expected by Grade 5.
- Girls outperform boys in reading a Class II level text in their native language (76% vs. 70.9%), while boys excel in Math and English reading comprehension.
- Enrollment gaps are noticeable by age, with 3.9% non-enrollment for 14-year-olds and 32.6% for 18-year-olds.
- Only 5.6% of surveyed youth are currently undergoing vocational training, primarily at the college level.
Academic Pressure and Competition
- The report addresses the pervasive issue of academic pressure, not limited to urban areas.
- It suggests reforming pedagogic processes to alleviate pressure on students who must balance academics with responsibilities such as working in family farms.
Digital Opportunities
- The increasing use of smartphones in rural areas, with 95% of surveyed households possessing them, presents an opportunity to extend education.
- ASER recommends flexible classroom designs and time schedules to accommodate this digital shift.
- However, there is a need to encourage students and parents to utilise digital technologies for learning purposes.
Gender Gaps
- ASER 2023 observes a narrowing gender gap in school enrollment, with only a 0.2 percentage point difference between males and females.
- Girls express a greater desire for higher education, with 7.4% enrolled in undergraduate courses compared to 6.8% of males.
- However, career choices and societal norms, including perceived ideal marriage age, contribute to gender-based educational disparities.
- The report unveils gender disparities in smartphone ownership and usage too.
- 38% of males use smartphones for online services compared to 19% of females.
- Males are twice as likely to use smartphones for practical tasks like reservations and bill payments.
- Only 30% of females have an email compared to 50% of males.