Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024 Highlights
The ASER 2024 report by Pratham focuses on education in India, showing both positive and concerning findings post-pandemic.
Key Findings
- Pandemic Learning Setback Reversed: Learning losses during the pandemic have been mitigated.
- Pre-primary Improvement: Significant progress observed in early education levels.
- Digital Awareness: High digital literacy among children aged 14-16.
Survey Details
- Conducted across 350,000 households and 650,000 children in 605 districts.
- Covered 18,000 villages and over 15,000 schools.
Enrollment and Learning Outcomes
- Right to Education (RTE): Nearly universal enrollment for children aged 6-14, with only 1.9% out of school.
- Numeracy Improvement: Standard V children showing better numerical division skills compared to past data (e.g., 30.7% in 2024 versus 25.6% in 2022).
Policy Impact
- National Education Policy (NEP): Emphasis on foundational literacy and numeracy is showing results.
- Increased pre-primary enrollment, especially through Anganwadi centers, aiding early childhood development.
Digital Literacy
- 90% of children aged 14-16 have access to smartphones at home.
- Over 80% are aware of how to use them and basic online safety measures.
Challenges and Concerns
- Despite improvements, over 50% of Standard V children struggle with reading Standard II-level text.
- Need for continued focus on quality education for long-term prosperity.
