ASER

1. 25% of teens aged 14-18 struggle to read grade 2-level text in regional languages.
2. The ASER report highlights that 42.7% of teens in this age group face difficulty reading sentences in English.
3. The survey sheds light on literacy challenges among Indian youth, emphasizing the need for educational improvements.

New Delhi, Jan 17: The latest Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) reveals concerning literacy levels among Indian teens aged 14-18.

Here are the key findings:

  1. Reading Proficiency:
    • 25% of teens in the 14-18 age group cannot fluently read a grade 2 text in their regional languages.
    • 42.7% struggle to read sentences in English.
  2. Enrollment Rates:
    • Overall, 86.8% of teens in this age group are enrolled in either school or college.
    • Enrollment percentages decrease with age, rising from 3.9% at 14 years to 10.9% at 16 years and 32.6% at 18 years.
  3. Impact of COVID-19:
    • Concerns about older children dropping out of school due to the pandemic were unfounded.
    • The proportion of out-of-school youth has been decreasing, thanks to the government’s focus on universalizing secondary education.
  4. Literacy and Numeracy Skills:
    • Foundational literacy and numeracy skills (FLN) show no significant improvement.
    • Reading a grade 2-level text decreased from 76.6% in 2017 to 73.6% in 2023.
    • Arithmetic skills improved slightly, with 43.3% capable of simple division problems.
  5. Gender Disparities:
    • Females outperform males (76% vs. 70.9%) in reading grade 2 text in regional languages.
    • Males excel in arithmetic and reading English texts.
  6. Course Streams:
    • In grades 11 and 12, 54% of students are enrolled in arts and humanities, 9.3% in commerce, and 33.7% in science.
    • Females are less likely to pursue STEM subjects (28.1%) compared to males (36.3%).
  7. Digital Awareness:
    • 90% of all youth have a smartphone in the household, with 43.7% of males having their own compared to 19.8% of females.
    • Two-thirds of smartphone users engaged in educational activities during the reference week.
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Despite increased enrollment, the report emphasizes the need to address FLN deficits early, as students progressing without foundational skills are unlikely to acquire them later.

The findings underscore the importance of continuous efforts to improve education outcomes for India’s youth.