ASER Report 2023

Context (IE | IE): Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023 ‘Beyond Basics’ survey results show foundation skills among 14- to 18-year-olds remain poor.
Since 2005, Pratham’s Annual Status of Education Report has been tracking school-related trends in rural areas for children aged 6-14.
In 2023, survey shifted focus to 14-to-18-year-olds. It examined their practical application of reading and math skills, aspirations, and access to digital technology, focusing on their proficiency in using it.

Key findings from the survey

Reading: 25% of children aged 14-18 struggle to fluently read a Standard II-level text in their regional language. Girls outperform boys across enrollment categories in this aspect.
Basic Numeracy: Over 50% of 14- to 18-year-old rural children in India face challenges in solving basic three-digit division problems, typically taught in Classes 3-4. They also encounter difficulties in everyday skills such as telling time and basic calculations.

Digital Skills & Access: Everyone had the basic knowledge of using digital tools. However, they primarily interact with social media.
Aspiration: Over 55% were enrolled in Arts/Humanities, 31.7% in STEM, and 9.4% in Commerce.
- Around 30% are already working, often for their parents. However, they don’t want to continue the same work in future.