The figure on reading English, in fact, shows an improvement compared to 2017, when 47% of students were found to be faltering. Of those who could read sentences in English, almost three-fourths could get the meaning (73.5%) as compared with 53% in 2017.
The report, published by Pratham Foundation on Wednesday, is based on a survey conducted in 28 districts across 26 states, reaching out to 34,745 youths in the 14-18 age group. One rural district was surveyed in each major state with the exception of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, where two such districts were surveyed.
Interestingly, the survey found that 90.5% of the youths in this age group reported having used social media in the reference week, with a slightly higher proportion of males (93.4%) than females (87.8%). However it observed that “of all youths who used social media, only about half are familiar with online safety settings that were included in the survey”.
The youths were surveyed on four points – basic reading, maths and English abilities; application of basic skills to everyday calculations; reading and understanding written instructions; and financial calculations that need to be done in real life.
ASER 2023 data from the sampled districts showed that 45% of youths in the surveyed group have basic arithmetic proficiency. “The rest need to ‘catch up’. Low levels of foundational numeracy affect the ability of youth in tackling everyday calculations where they need to apply measurement or use the unitary method in practical situations, or even do simple financial computations (managing a budget, applying a discount or calculating interest rates or repayment of a loan),” said the report.
On everyday calculations besides reading and understanding written instructions in daily life applications, the survey looked at whether a youth can measure length using a scale when the starting point is 0cm and then when the starting point is moved, and whether he/ she can read and understand simple written instructions on ORS packets.
It found that nearly 85% of surveyed youths can measure length using a scale when the starting point is 0 cm but this drops sharply to 39% when the starting point is moved. This showed a decline as compared with 2017 when it was 86% and 40%. Males do better than females across all everyday calculations.
For nearly two decades, ASER reports have consistently pointed to deficiencies among children in elementary school with regard to foundational skills like reading and basic arithmetic. But this year’s focus on an older age group also points to a similar gap in learning outcomes at higher levels.
ASER reports are usually referred to by the government while formulating policies.
The report stated, “Trends on basic learning have remained relatively unchanged over the last decade. Although the National Achievement Survey (NAS) and ASER use different metrics and methods for assessing learning, both point to the fact that basic learning levels of elementary school children need significant improvement.”
Highlighting that levels of basic learning in Classes V-VIII have not seen much improvement in the last decade, the report observed that “as far as basic math is concerned, a comprehensive strategy for learning improvement, starting with basic skills, is urgently needed for the upper primary grades (similar trends are visible for reading as well)”.