ASER REPORT: CUES FOR REFORM

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THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023 report titled

‘Beyond Basics’ was released. It was based on a survey held in 28 districts across 26 states, reaching a total of 34,745 youths in the age group 14-18 years.

WHAT IS ASER REPORT?

• ASER report is facilitated by Pratham Education Foundation since 2005. It is a large-scale citizen-led household survey that aims to understand whether children in rural India are enrolled in school and whether they are learning.
• The ASER report examines the schooling status and foundational learning of children across districts and states of rural India.
• Originally it was an annual publication but after 2016, it has become a biennial report.
• In the intervening years, ASER focuses on different aspects of children’s education and learning. For instance, in 2017, the survey focused on the enrollment patterns, learning levels, awareness and aspirations of rural youth aged 14-18. In 2019, it focused on enrollment and school readiness of young children aged 4-8.
• It collects data on the enrolment status of children in the age group of 3-16 years, and basic reading and arithmetic levels of children in the age group of 5-16 years.

MORE ON THE NEWS:

• In 2023, ASER focuses on 14–18-year-olds & provides evidence on enrollment patterns, learning levels and their aspirations. It also explores digital access & skills among youth in rural India.
• This will be the second year since the return of the key national survey that captures the state of foundational literacy and numeracy in the country.
• But like ASER’s previous editions, the latest report doesn’t see enrollment as the only goal. It lists failings and challenges and charts opportunities.

FINDINGS OF ASER, 2023:

• Learning post pandemic: The survey highlighted the learning outcomes post pandemic on students in the age bracket of 6-14 years. The number has gone from 96.6 per cent in 2010 to 96.7 per cent in 2014 and 97.2 per cent in 2018 to 98.4 per cent in 2022. There was an increase of 7.3 percentage points in government school enrolment from 2018 to 2022.
• More enrolment: It was for the first time the percentage of children currently not enrolled in schools dropped to 2 per cent or below in 2022. Even after prolonged school closures during the pandemic period, proportion of children not enrolled in school continued to decline between 2018 and 2022. It confirms the trend of more students transiting to secondary education. Concerns that the pandemic-induced economic distress would result in older children dropping out of school have been refuted.
• Survey in northeastern states: The ASER report said the survey was conducted across nine districts, 262 villages, and 4,859 households in Manipur. The survey highlighted that Manipur has the lowest government school enrolment percentage among northeastern states.
• Issue in foundational skills: There is concern in foundational skills as about a fourth of those surveyed find it difficult to read a Grade 2 level text in the local language and more than half struggle with arithmetic skills, they should have been proficient in by Grade 5.
• Skilling issue: This is a serious deficit that has a bearing on the quality of the country’s labour force no skilling programme, however ambitious and well-designed, can succeed when its targeted beneficiaries have problems with elementary reading and basic arithmetic.
• Increasing academic pressure: The report highlights one of the most reported concerns of recent times which is increasing pressure on young students amidst acute academic competition. The problem, as ASER 2023 reveals, is not confined to urban areas.
• Technological use: NEP 2020 envisions embedding digital technologies in the educational landscape. Reports highlights the increasing use of smartphones in rural areas about 95% surveyed households had these devices and nearly 95% men and 90% women could use them. However, the report highlights that the use of smartphones for education today is way less than that for entertainment.
• Vocational training: ASER report highlighted that Vocational skilling is not the first choice for youth and only 6 per cent of the surveyed are currently doing vocational courses.

RECOMMENDATION OF ASER REPORT:

• Vocational education: The policymakers should re-imagine vocational education as NEP envisages and make it truly aspirational.
• Tapping demographic dividend: ASER report has significant pointers on how country could use education to leverage its demographic dividend as it focuses on an age group that is critical for unlocking demographic dividend.
• Developing individual capabilities: The report talks of shifting from a curriculum-centred approach to one focused on the individual learner. ASER suggests reforming pedagogic processes to reduce pressures on students. The use of digital and other educational capabilities of youngsters could provide cues to policymakers in implementing NEP’s
• Use of technology: Increasing use of technology is an opportunity to extend education, and design classrooms that are flexible with time and schedules. However, planners will have to find ways to push students and their parents to use digital technologies for learning.
• Integration with Anganwadi: The report suggested integration between the Anganwadi system and the school system is urgently needed to ensure overall learning development.

THE CONCLUSION:

The recently released ASER report highlights the issues and challenges faced by the education sector in rural areas. It stated that to able to realise the demographic dividend, India needs to opt for prudent reforms in its technical and vocational education and training systems.

UPSC PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q. “‘Earn while you learn’ scheme needs to be strengthened to make vocational education and skill training meaningful” (2021)
Q. National Education Policy 2020 is in conformity with the Sustainable Development Goal-4 (2030). It intends to restructure and reorient education system in India. Critically examine the statement. ( 2020).

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Q. Recently released Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), 2023 highlights the gaps in learning in India. Discuss the challenges and recommendations highlighted in the report to tap the demographic dividend in India.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/express-view-on-aser-report-cues-for-reform-9114362/