Context

• Recently, Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023 report titled ‘Beyond Basics’ was released which was conducted in 28 districts across 26 states, involving 34,745 youth aged 14-18.

Background

• One rural district was surveyed in each major state, with the exception of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, where two rural districts were surveyed.
• The ‘basic’ ASER collects information about enrollment in preschool and school for children in the age group of 3 to 16 and assesses children aged 5 to 16 one-on-one to understand their foundational reading and arithmetic abilities.
• The launch of this report provides a timely opportunity to look at policies and practices from the point of view of this relatively understudied age group.

Major Highlights of Report

• This report explored its survey in domains like Activity, Ability, Digital awareness and skills and Aspirations.
• Only 43.3 per cent of the age group is able to solve such problems correctly. This skill is usually expected in Standard III and Standard IV. However, the survey adds that some 57.3 per cent can read sentences in English. And of those who can read sentences in English, nearly 75 per cent of them can tell their meanings.
• In doing basic mathematics, over 60 per cent are able to do the budget management task; about 37 per cent can apply a discount; and only about 10 per cent can calculate repayment.
• Close to 90 per cent of youth have a smartphone in the household and know how to use it. Twice as many males (43.7 per cent) than females (19.8 per cent) can use a smartphone. Almost 90.5 per cent of the youth surveyed used social media, but just about half of them are familiar with the online safety settings.
• 86.8 per cent of 14- to 18-year-olds are enrolled in an educational institution. The percentage of youth not enrolled is a high 32.6 per cent for 18-year-olds but low for 14-year-olds at 3.9 per cent.
• Most of the young people in this age group of 14-18 were enrolled in the Arts/Humanities stream. In Class XI or higher, more than half are enrolled in the Arts/Humanities stream (55.7 per cent).
• Females are less likely to be enrolled in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) stream. Against 28.1 per cent females, around 36.3 per cent males were enrolled in the stream.
• Of those surveyed, 5.6 per cent of the youth took vocational training or other related courses, most of which were 6 months or less.

About ASER Report

• It is a nationwide citizen-led household survey facilitated by NGO Pratham Education Foundation that provides a snapshot of the status of children’s schooling and learning in rural India.
• It was first implemented in 2005, the 'basic’ ASER survey was conducted annually until 2014 and switched to an alternate-year cycle in 2016.

Initiatives by the Government of India for Promoting Elementary/Primary Education 

• Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan under the Samagra Shiksha
• SWAYAM Programme
• NIPUN Bharat
• Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme
• Mahila Samakhya Programme
• Strengthening for providing quality Education in Madrassas (SPQEM)
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao