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2mo ago

2024 ASER Report Highlights Uneven Post-Pandemic Recovery in Rural Education

The report shows improvements in foundational skills driven by government initiatives but reveals persistent disparities across states and school types.

In Punjab, the survey was carried out in 600 villages across 20 districts covering 20,226 children. (HT File)
Some states have done very well and surpassed their pre-pandemic learning levels, while others are yet to recover fully
NEW DELHI, INDIA - January 13: Children attend a class under a Delhi Metro bridge at the Free School Under the Bridge, a school that provides free-to-cost classes to children from low income areas during the cold weather at near Akshardham Temple, in New Delhi India onJanuary 13, 2025. (HT Photo) (Hindustan Times)
In this year's report, older children aged 14-16 years were also surveyed about digital access and usage.

Overview

  • The 2024 ASER report, based on a survey of nearly 650,000 children across rural India, shows learning outcomes recovering from pandemic-related losses but with significant variations across states.
  • Government schools have shown faster improvements in foundational literacy and numeracy compared to private schools, attributed to initiatives like the NIPUN Bharat Mission launched in 2021.
  • Arithmetic skills have recovered more robustly than reading skills, with notable gains in early grades, particularly in government schools, though private schools still outperform in absolute terms.
  • Enrollment trends suggest a partial economic recovery in rural areas, with private school enrollment rising slightly while government school enrollment has declined since 2022.
  • Despite progress, many states have yet to return to pre-pandemic learning levels, particularly in higher grades, highlighting ongoing challenges in addressing educational disparities.