Alarming Literacy Gap In India! 25% Of Teens, Aged 14-18, Struggle To Read Grade-2 Text With Fluency

The latest Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) survey has revealed that almost 25% of teenagers between the ages of 14-18 have difficulty reading a text written in their regional language at the fluency level of second-graders. Moreover, at least 42.7% of teenagers face problems while reading English sentences.

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ASER 2023 report focuses on rural youth

Conducted by the Pratham Foundation, an education-focused non-profit, the ASER 2023 report titled "Beyond Basics" focuses on rural Indian youth aged 14 to 18. The survey encompassed 34,745 youth from both government and private institutes across 28 districts in 26 states. This particular age group was last covered in the ASER report in 2017.

The report reveals that 86.8% of individuals aged 14-18 are enrolled in either school or college, with enrollment percentages decreasing with age. The proportion of youth not enrolled in school or college increases with age, from 3.9% among 14-year-olds to 10.9% among 16-year-olds and 32.6% among 18-year-olds.

ASER 2023 report: Steady decline in youth dropping out of school

While concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic suggested older children might drop out of school, the report indicates that the fear turned out to be unfounded. The proportion of out-of-school children and youth has steadily declined, attributed to the government's efforts to universalize secondary education.

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However, the report underscores that although young people stay in school longer, there is no significant improvement in their foundational literacy and numeracy skills (FLN).

According to the report, the percentage of 14 to 18-year-olds who could read a grade 2-level text decreased from 76.6% in 2017 to 73.6% in 2023.

In 2017, only 39.5% of young people had the ability to solve a basic division problem at the grade 3-4 level. This number increased to 43.3% in 2023. However, it is concerning that more than half of the students still face difficulties in solving division problems expected at the class III/IV level.

ASER 2023 report: Female students outshine males

The analysis suggests that female students perform better in reading grade 2nd level text in their regional language, whereas males excel in arithmetic and reading English text.

The report stresses the importance of addressing fundamental reading and math skills, noting that if students don't acquire these foundational abilities early on, they are less likely to gain them later.

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ASER now records streams of students in grades 11 and 12 and college. 54% are in arts and humanities, 9.3% are in commerce, and 33.7% are in science. Female students are less likely to be enrolled in the STEM stream, with only 28.1% enrolled compared to 36.3% of male students.

The report also explores digital awareness, noting that 90% of all youth have a smartphone, with males more likely to have their own. Two-thirds of youths using smartphones report engaging in education-related activities, while nearly 80% use smartphones for entertainment during the reference week.

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