ASER Survey 2023: More Girls than Boys Continue to Study After 12th

According to the Annual Status for Education Report 2023, girls show a greater inclination to pursue education beyond Class 12 than boys. 

• The report, based on a survey, attributes this trend to the belief among girls that education can enhance their homemaking skills as well as their genuine passion for learning.

What is an ASER survey?

ASER is an annual citizen-led survey that provides reliable estimates for rural Indian children's educational and learning levels. 

• The report provides new ideas on how to improve learning for teenagers in India and help the country benefit from its large youth population.
• The survey also shows the current school enrollment and learning status of children in rural India.
• The 'basic' ASER survey collects information about which children aged 3-16 are enrolled in pre-school and school. It also provides one-on-one assessments to understand the reading and mathematics abilities of children aged 5-16 years.
• The basic ASER survey was done every year from 2005 to 2014. Since 2016, it has been conducted every two years.
• This year, the ASER focuses on 14-18 year olds. It provides information on enrollment rates, learning levels, and career aspirations. It also looks at digital access and skills for youth in rural India.

Objectives of the survey

The survey conducted in 2023 targeted children aged 14 to 18 years in rural areas of India. It aimed to assess their proficiency in applying reading and math skills to real-life situations, as well as their aspirations. 

• The main objective of this recent survey was to produce evidence on various aspects of youth development in rural India that stakeholders from different sectors could utilize to inform policy making and practice.

Domains of Survey

Activity: 

• Increased Enrollment: Overall, 86.8% of 14-18-year-olds are enrolled in an educational institution.
• Vocational Training: Youth at the college level are most likely to pursue vocational training, with 16.2% enrolled in such courses. 

Ability:

• Foundational Skills: About 25% of this age 14-18 group cannot read a Std II level text fluently in their regional language.
  • More than 50% struggle with simple division problems. 

• Everyday Calculations: Nearly 85% of surveyed youth can measure length using a scale when the starting point is 0 cm.
• Daily Life Applications: Youth upto reading Std I two-thirds can answer at least 3 out of 4 questions based on reading and understanding written instructions.
• Financial Calculations: Of the youth who can do subtraction or more, over 60% are able to do the budget management task, about 37% can apply a discount, but only about 10% can calculate repayment.

Digital awareness and skills: 

• Digital Access: about 90% of children have smartphones in the household but females do not use many smartphones.
• Communication and Online Safety: Youth are not aware of online safety tools though they know how to use social media.
• Digital Tasks: 70% of youth can browse the internet to find the answer

About Pratham Foundation

Pratham is a leading non-governmental organization in India that aims to improve the quality of education in the country. 

• Established in 1995, the organization started with a focus on providing education to children living in Mumbai's slums. 
• Over the years, Pratham has expanded its reach and now operates in various regions across the country. 
• The organization's name, Pratham, means 'first' in Sanskrit, signifying its pioneering efforts in transforming India's educational landscape. 
• Pratham's innovative approach focuses on implementing high-quality, low-cost, and replicable interventions to bridge the gaps in the education system. 
• The organization has achieved its success through various policies and strategies, making it a model for other similar organizations.