Most rural kids 14-18 can’t do Class 3 math, over 25% can’t read: ASER 2023

The 2023 report reveals that children in India continue to struggle with basic reading and arithmetic skills well into their teenage years, even after reaching senior classes such as standard 10 and the higher secondary levels of education (Classes 11 and 12).

Key findings include:

1. Reading Skills: Around 26.5% of adolescents in the 14-18 age group could not read a Class 2-level textbook in their regional language. Additionally, 42.7% struggled to read sentences in English, with 26.5% failing to understand the meaning of the text they read.

2. Mathematics Skills: More than half (56.7%) of the surveyed students could not solve a simple 3-digit by 1-digit division problem, which is typically taught in lower classes. This indicates a significant challenge in basic arithmetic operations.

3. Everyday Life Skills: Less than half (around 45%) of the surveyed adolescents could calculate the number of hours a child had slept based on bedtime and wake-up time. In tasks such as measuring an object with a ruler or reading instructions on a packet, performance varied, with notable difficulties in adapting to changes in task conditions.

4. Gender Disparities: Across most tasks, boys performed better than girls in applying basic numeracy and reading skills. For instance, a higher percentage of boys demonstrated the ability to perform division and calculate time compared to girls.

5. Educational Enrollment: Despite concerns during the pandemic, 86.8% of youth between the ages of 14 to 18 years are enrolled in educational institutions. However, the poor foundational skills reveal a gap between enrollment and actual learning outcomes.

6. Educational Streams: The majority (55.7%) of young people in this age group were enrolled in the Arts/Humanities stream, followed by STEM (31.7%) and Commerce (9.4%). The report notes a gender disparity in STEM enrollment, with more males than females opting for this stream.

7. Technological Literacy: A notable shift has occurred in the use of technology, with around 89% of those surveyed having a smartphone in their household, and 92% claiming to know how to use it. This highlights the growing influence of technology, especially during the pandemic years.

ASER Center Director Wilima Wadhwa emphasized the importance of foundational learning and life skills, not only for academic advancement but also for daily life. The report underscores the need for improvements in the quality of education to support the aspirations of India's youth and contribute to the country's economic growth.