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GS 2 > Social Justice > Education
REFERENCE NEWS
The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023 titled ‘Beyond Basics’ has been released by the Pratham Foundation.
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The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023, examines the schooling status and foundational learning of children aged 14-18 years across districts and states of rural India.
Positive findings of the report
Negative findings of the report
More secondary education:
ASER 2023 notes that ‘today more children in India have more years of schooling than ever before’. Apprehensions that the pandemic-induced economic distress would result in older children dropping out of school have been belied.
Enrolment rate:
Overall, 86.8% of 14-18-year-olds are enrolled in an educational institution. The percentage of youth not enrolled is 3.9% for 14-year-old youth and 32.6% for 18-year-olds. Most of the people in this age group were enrolled in the Arts/Humanities streams.
Foundational skill gaps in reading and arithmetic abilities- About 25% cannot read Grade 2 text, and over 50% face difficulties with arithmetic skills expected by Grade 5, highlighting a deficit in foundational learning.
Underutilisation of Digital technology- Despite the high availability of smartphones in rural households (95%), their use for educational purposes is limited.
Gender Disparity in Reading and Arithmetic Skills- Males performed better than females in arithmetic and English reading across most of the tasks that test the ability to apply basic numeracy and reading skills.
Ex- Only 41.1% females were able to tell the time compared to 51% males. Fewer females (28.1%) are in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics stream (STEM) stream as compared to males (36.3%).
Gender Disparity in Digital Skills- 43.7% of males own smartphones as compared to 19.8% of females. Across all phone-related tasks assigned to respondents, boys outperformed girls.
Vocational training- The survey shows a low enrolment in vocational training, with only 5.6% of young people participating.
REASONS FOR POOR SCHOOL EDUCATION OUTCOMES
Inadequate Teacher-student ratio and teacher’s Training- Almost 8% of India’s schools have only one teacher. Teachers lack training in modern pedagogical methods, and struggle to employ interactive and engaging teaching techniques. This has impacted students’ understanding of basic concepts of arithmetic and reading ability.
Insufficient Learning Resources- Limited access to textbooks and learning materials have hindered students’ ability to practice and reinforce foundational skills outside the classroom.
Digital Divide: Despite advancements in technology, a significant digital divide persists, particularly in rural areas. Many students lack access to reliable internet connectivity and digital devices, impacting their ability to participate in online learning.
Ex: The School Children’s Online and Offline Learning (SCHOOL) survey conducted during pandemic found that 37% of children in rural areas were not studying at all, while only 8% were regularly studying online.
Socioeconomic Disparities- Students from lower-income families face challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, lack of educational support at home and limited access to extracurricular activities that enhance their foundational skills. Moreover, schools in low-income areas often lack basic facilities like electricity, affecting the quality of education and learning environment.
Language Barriers- Students in regions where the language of instruction is not their native language face challenges in understanding and expressing themselves especially students from tribal regions, face English reading barriers.
Ex: The SCHOOL survey found that 43% of Adivasi children were not studying at all.
Outdated Curriculum- School Curriculum doesn’t incorporate digital literacy and have left students unprepared with digital skills to be a part of the modern workforce.
Assessment Practices- Assessments have primarily focussed on memorization rather than critical thinking, which has led to students prioritizing rote learning over understanding foundational concepts.
Inclusive Education: While there have been efforts to promote inclusive education, students with disabilities still face considerable barriers in accessing quality education due to a lack of trained special educators and inclusive infrastructure.
GOVT.INITIATIVES
WAY FORWARD (As per ASER Report)
Localized Grant Allocation: Implement a system where Central and State educational grants are allocated based on local governing units like gram panchayats and urban local bodies. This approach aims to ensure direct and efficient utilization of funds by schools, tailored to their specific needs.
Community-Driven School Management: Transition towards a model where schools are predominantly managed by local communities, with the state government acting as a financier. Encourage private sector involvement in school management to improve quality. For example, responsibilities like the Mid-Day Meal program could be delegated to village-level self-help groups, fostering community ownership and engagement in school affairs.
Strengthening Parent-Teacher Collaboration: Develop regular and structured interactions between teachers and parents at the school level. This strategy focuses on building strong relationships with each student's family, recognizing that parental involvement is crucial for improving learning outcomes. Initiatives like the Nipun Bharat Mission can be transformed into community movements, drawing parallels from successful campaigns like the Total Literacy Campaign.
Integration of Smartphone Technology in Learning: Leverage smartphone technology to deliver online educational modules, enhancing and supplementing traditional classroom teaching. Design interactive online assessments in a gamified format to make learning more engaging and effective for students.
Innovative and Holistic Learning Methods: Introduce a variety of innovative learning methods in schools, including indoor and outdoor sports, cultural activities, play-way learning tools, video films, and audio-visual aids. This diverse approach aims to make learning more interactive and enjoyable, thereby improving student engagement and retention.
Development of Public Libraries: Focus on the development and strengthening of public libraries to address the lack of learning resources. Emulate successful models like that of the Karnataka government, which has significantly improved its public library system, positively impacting school learning outcomes.
Thus, the ASER 2023 report reflects a complex narrative of educational progress and persisting challenges in India. It acknowledges advances like improved enrolment but also underscores critical gaps in foundational learning and digital accessibility, necessitating multifaceted and community-engaged educational reforms.
PRACTICE QUESTION
Q: How has the school education system in India evolved over the years, and what are the current challenges and potential solutions to ensure quality education across different regions and socio-economic backgrounds?(15M,250W)
