LIVE ASER 2024 report
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ASER 2024 reached 649,491 children in 17,997 villages across 605 rural districts in 26 states and two Union territories in India | Representative photo: iStock

LIVE | ASER 2024 shows post-COVID recovery in learning; enrolment down

States have continued to push ahead with measures to improve foundational learning levels in primary schools; recovery is almost fully driven by govt schools


The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024 report, which provides insight into the educational status of rural children, especially between the age group of five and 16 years, was released on Tuesday (January 28).

As always, the survey assessed school enrolment, basic reading and arithmetic abilities of children in the said age group. The findings this year also include new data on digital access and skills among adolescents aged 14 to 16 years.

Enrolment down but all-round recovery

The increase in government school enrolment seen during the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have reversed, with the proportion of children aged 6-14 years enrolled in government schools nearly back to the 2018 levels.

The report also noted that not only there has been a full recovery from the pandemic-induced learning loss, the learning levels in the primary grades are higher than past levels in some cases. ASER has recorded an improvement in reading abilities and arithmetic among Class 3 and 5 government school students.

Also, about a third of all five-year-olds attended a private school or pre-school in 2024. This figure was 37.3 per cent in 2018, fell to 30.8 per cent in 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and returned to 37.5 per cent in 2024.

Also read | PARAKH may assess students better, but can it address learning gaps?

ASER is a sample-based rural household survey conducted by rural organisations and institutions in each district. It is done one-on-one with each sampled child using simple and easy-to-administer tools and formats.

ASER 2024 reached 649,491 children in 17,997 villages across 605 rural districts in 26 states and two Union territories in India.

To know the key findings, follow our Live updates below:

Live Updates

  • 28 Jan 2025 8:03 AM GMT

    Concise summary of Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim

    Chapter 8 of the ASER 2024 report highlights educational data for Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Sikkim. Here is a concise summary:

    1. Mizoram

    • Learning and Enrollment:
      • High enrollment in government schools, with consistent attendance rates.
      • Foundational reading and arithmetic skills among primary students are improving.
    • Digital Access:
      • Smartphone ownership and usage for learning are growing but vary by region.

    2. Nagaland

    • Educational Achievements:
      • Gains in reading levels and arithmetic proficiency among Std V and Std VIII students.
    • Challenges:
      • Access to school facilities and digital resources remains uneven across rural areas.

    3. Odisha

    • Learning Outcomes:
      • Significant improvements in reading skills at primary levels, with Std III and Std V students showing notable progress.
      • Arithmetic capabilities, particularly division, show steady advancement.
    • Infrastructure:
      • Enhanced availability of essential school facilities.

    4. Punjab

    • Key Progress:
      • Strong literacy performance in Std V and Std VIII students.
      • Enrollment levels remain high across the state.
    • Digital Divide:
      • Urban-rural gaps persist in smartphone access for educational purposes.

    5. Rajasthan

    • Foundational Learning:
      • Improvements in reading and numeracy among younger students, but further intervention is needed to close learning gaps.
    • Infrastructure:
      • Progress in providing essential facilities like drinking water and toilets.

    6. Sikkim

    • Learning Achievements:
      • Std V and Std VIII students exhibit good performance in reading and arithmetic skills.
    • Small-Scale Interventions:
      • Community-driven efforts are strengthening school attendance and engagement.

    This chapter showcases the diversity in educational achievements and challenges across these states, with a focus on foundational skills and the need for addressing digital and infrastructure disparities.

  • 28 Jan 2025 8:02 AM GMT

    Concise summary of Karnataka, Kerala, MP, Maharashtra, Meghalaya

    Chapter 7 of the ASER 2024 report covers key educational indicators for Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Meghalaya. Below is a summary:

    1. Karnataka

    • Learning Outcomes:
      • Improvement in foundational arithmetic skills, with more Std III students performing subtraction and Std V students solving division problems.
      • Std VIII students demonstrate steady literacy progress, with an increasing percentage able to read Std II-level texts.
    • Infrastructure:
      • Better availability of essential school facilities such as toilets and drinking water.

    2. Kerala

    • Achievements:
      • Kerala continues to lead in foundational literacy and arithmetic skills, with the majority of students in Std VIII able to read Std II-level texts.
      • High performance in arithmetic tasks, such as division in Std V, remains consistent.
    • Enrollment:
      • Near-universal school enrollment is observed across primary and secondary levels.

    3. Madhya Pradesh

    • Progress in Learning:
      • Foundational learning shows a gradual increase, but gaps remain in arithmetic and literacy skills for Std III and V.
      • More focused efforts are required to bring rural areas in line with national averages.
    • Challenges:
      • Persistent challenges in school attendance and learning continuity.

    4. Maharashtra

    • Foundational Skills:
      • Significant improvement in arithmetic and reading abilities among Std III and Std V students.
      • High levels of participation in digital learning initiatives, supported by better infrastructure.
    • Regional Variations:
      • Urban areas outperform rural districts in both learning outcomes and digital access.

    5. Meghalaya

    • Literacy and Numeracy:
      • Improvement in reading levels among younger children, but arithmetic capabilities remain below average.
    • Infrastructure Challenges:
      • Limited access to teaching-learning resources and uneven distribution of digital tools hinder progress in rural regions.

    This chapter provides a comprehensive look at the achievements, gaps, and regional disparities in education across these five states.

  • 28 Jan 2025 8:02 AM GMT

    Concise summary of Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal, J-K, Jharkhand

    Chapter 6 of the ASER 2024 report focuses on state-specific educational trends in Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Jharkhand. Below is a summary:

    1. Gujarat

    • Learning Outcomes:
      • Foundational skills in reading and arithmetic have improved compared to previous years.
      • Higher percentages of Std V students demonstrate the ability to perform division.
    • Enrollment and Digital Access:
      • Widespread enrollment in government schools, but digital access and smartphone usage remain uneven across regions.

    2. Haryana

    • Progress in Education:
      • Significant gains in arithmetic capabilities, particularly among Std III and Std V students.
      • Enrollment in government schools remains steady.
    • Challenges:
      • Disparities in digital literacy and limited infrastructure improvements.

    3. Himachal Pradesh

    • Achievements:
      • The state continues to excel in foundational literacy, with high percentages of Std VIII students able to read a Std II-level text.
      • Arithmetic levels show consistent improvement.
    • Infrastructure:
      • Himachal Pradesh stands out for its better school facilities compared to other states.

    4. Jammu and Kashmir

    • Key Trends:
      • Enrollment rates remain strong despite challenges in accessibility.
      • Learning outcomes in reading and arithmetic show progress but still trail behind the national average.
    • Regional Variations:
      • Rural-urban divides are evident in both learning outcomes and infrastructure availability.

    5. Jharkhand

    • Education Statistics:
      • The state has made notable progress in foundational literacy, with Std V students showing better arithmetic proficiency.
      • School attendance remains a focus area for further improvement.
    • Barriers:
      • Gaps in teacher training and technology integration hinder consistent progress.

    This chapter highlights both achievements and challenges faced by these states, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to address disparities in learning outcomes and infrastructure.

  • 28 Jan 2025 8:01 AM GMT

    Concise summary of Andhra, Arunachal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh

    The ASER 2024 report's Chapter 5 focuses on state-specific insights for Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh. Here’s a concise summary of key highlights for these states:

    1. Andhra Pradesh

    • Enrollment and Learning Levels:
      • A high percentage of children aged 6-14 are enrolled in government schools.
      • Significant progress in foundational literacy and arithmetic compared to previous years.
      • Smartphone access for education has expanded, though rural-urban divides persist.

    2. Arunachal Pradesh

    • Learning Outcomes:
      • Improvement in reading levels among Std V students who can read a Std II-level text.
      • Arithmetic proficiency has also shown gradual gains.
    • Challenges:
      • Digital access for children remains a concern due to the region's geographic isolation.

    3. Assam

    • Educational Achievements:
      • Noticeable progress in foundational literacy and numeracy among younger students.
      • Efforts have been made to enhance digital literacy for older students aged 14-16.
    • Infrastructure:
      • Steady improvement in school facilities like electricity and drinking water.

    4. Bihar

    • Key Trends:
      • Enrollment rates in government schools remain high.
      • Foundational literacy levels have improved significantly but still lag behind the national average.
    • Digital Divide:
      • Limited smartphone access continues to impact digital learning initiatives.

    5. Chhattisgarh

    • Progress:
      • Strong gains in reading and arithmetic proficiency, particularly in Std V.
      • Government initiatives have focused on increasing access to teaching materials.
    • Barriers:
      • Persistent gaps in teacher training and student attendance.

    This chapter provides an overview of educational progress and challenges specific to each state, highlighting regional disparities and ongoing initiatives.

  • 28 Jan 2025 7:59 AM GMT

    Where was the survey conducted?

    28 states, UTs

    605 districts

    17,997 villages

    15,728 schools

    3,52,028 households

    6,49,491 children

  • 28 Jan 2025 7:59 AM GMT

    Data and trends regarding rural education across the country

    Chapter 4 of the ASER 2024 report, titled India, provides detailed data and trends regarding rural education across the country, broken down into state-wise statistics and learning outcomes. Here are the highlights:

    Key Focus Areas:

    1. Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN):
      • The report presents state-wise data on foundational skills, specifically reading and arithmetic proficiency among children in different grades.
      • Reading Levels (Std III and Std VIII):
        • Maps and tables showcase the percentage of children in Std III who can read a Std II level text.
        • Similarly, data for Std VIII shows the proportion of children who can read at their grade level.
      • Arithmetic Levels (Std V and Std VIII):
        • State-wise trends reveal the percentage of children who can solve division problems (Std V) or perform more advanced arithmetic tasks (Std VIII).
    2. Enrollment and Attendance:
      • High overall enrollment rates are observed, with variations among states. The focus remains on ensuring that enrolled children attend school regularly.
      • Data includes figures for average attendance rates of both students and teachers in rural government schools.
    3. Infrastructure and Facilities:
      • Coverage includes access to basic facilities such as electricity, drinking water, and toilets in schools. These indicators are measured alongside the availability and use of teaching-learning materials (TLMs).
    4. Learning Outcome Gaps:
      • There are notable disparities in learning outcomes across states. For instance:
        • States like Himachal Pradesh and Kerala perform well in foundational skills.
        • Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and other states lag in proficiency levels.
    5. Digital Access and Technology:
      • A growing focus on digital literacy and smartphone access is highlighted, particularly among older children aged 14–16. This aims to bridge the digital divide and improve educational equity.

    Visual Data:

    • State-wise Maps and Tables:
      • Provide a quick snapshot of learning achievements across India, categorized by grade and subject.
      • Highlight significant progress or gaps in educational outcomes over time.

    This chapter underscores the challenges and progress made in improving foundational education in India, while also emphasizing regional disparities and areas requiring further intervention.

  • 28 Jan 2025 7:58 AM GMT

    Summary of the state of education in rural India

    Chapter 3 of the ASER 2024 report, titled The National Picture, provides a detailed summary of the state of education in rural India, focusing on enrollment, foundational learning levels, and emerging trends across different age groups. Below is a summary:

    Key Findings by Age Group:

    1. Pre-primary (3–5 years):
      • Enrollment Patterns: Steady improvement in enrollment in pre-primary institutions. For 3-year-olds, enrollment rose from 68.1% in 2018 to 77.4% in 2024. States like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Telangana show near-universal enrollment, while Meghalaya and Uttar Pradesh lag with over 50% of children not enrolled.
      • Institution Types: Anganwadi centers remain the dominant provider of services, enrolling over 75% of children in states like Odisha, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Karnataka.
    2. Elementary (6–14 years):
      • School Attendance and Enrollment: High levels of government school enrollment and consistent attendance rates, but challenges remain in bridging learning gaps.
      • Learning Levels:
        • Reading and arithmetic capabilities vary significantly across states.
        • Despite efforts like NIPUN Bharat, foundational literacy and numeracy for Std III and V remain areas needing focused improvement.
    3. Older Children (15–16 years):
      • Digital literacy and higher-level learning outcomes are emerging themes, with ASER 2024 capturing data on access, usage, and digital skills for this group.

    Maps and Data:

    The chapter includes visual data through maps showcasing:

    • Government school enrollment for ages 6–14.
    • Attendance patterns and learning levels in reading and arithmetic across Std III, V, and VIII.
    • Smartphone access across households, highlighting the increasing digital divide.

    Broader Observations:

    • Focus on Quality: A significant shift is noted from merely ensuring school enrollment to emphasizing learning outcomes.
    • National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: NEP's initiatives like NIPUN Bharat aim to ensure foundational literacy by 2026–27. ASER 2024 measures their impact at the grassroots level.
    • Technological Integration: Efforts to address the digital divide are critical, with ASER highlighting state-level disparities in smartphone access and digital usage.

    This chapter provides a comprehensive snapshot of the state of rural education in India, identifying both achievements and challenges, with a clear focus on bridging learning gaps and leveraging technology for equitable education.

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