GS Paper 2
Syllabus: Development and management of social sectors/services related to Education etc
Source: IE
Direction: The article highlights the findings of the ASER 2022, what can be deduced from these findings and way ahead.
Context: Following two years of school closures caused by Covid-19, the recently released 17th Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) for 2022 contains both bright spots and areas of concern.
Background:
- Pratham, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has been surveying children aged 6 to 14 and publishing ASER since 2005 to track trends in school enrolment, attendance, and reading and arithmetic abilities.
- This year’s report (published after 2018) surveyed 7 lakh children in 19,060 villages across 616 districts across the country.
| ASER 2022 | |
| Bright spots | Areas of concern |
| ● School enrolment touched a record high (98.4% in 2022, 97.2% in 2018)
● The proportion of girls (aged 11-14) not enrolled has reduced (10.3% in 2006, 4.1% in 2018, 2% in 2022) ● The percentage of children (aged 11 – 14) enrolled in government schools has risen from 65% in 2018 to 71.7% in 2022 ● A small, steady increase in the children availing private tuitions (from 26.4% to 30.5% between 2018-22) ● Improvement in the AVAILABILITY OF SMARTPHONES ○ In 2022, the availability of smartphones in the homes of enrolled students has nearly doubled from ● % of CHILDREN NOT GOING TO SCHOOL: ○ It has dropped to 2% or below for the first time in 2022 ○ Even after prolonged school closures during the pandemic period, the proportion of children not enrolled in school continued to decline between 2018 and 2022. |
● Drop in learning levels of foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN)
● For example, in 2022, the basic reading ability of children in Class 3 dipped by 6.8% points from 27.2% in 2018 and the proportion of children in Class 3 who could do at least subtraction fell to 25.9% (from 28.2%) |
| What can be deduced from the ASER 2022 findings? | Govt scheme to promote FLN | Way ahead |
| Why has enrolment in government schools increased? Improvements in infrastructure; distribution of textbooks, midday meals during lockdown; job losses, and the closure of budget private schools in rural areas.
Why did private tuition increase? More flexible to adapt (If a person is unable to pay, they can pay later) and provided extra assistance to children when schools were closed. |
● The National Education Policy 2020
● The National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN) Bharat ● Foundational Literacy and Numeracy mission |
● Integration between the Anganwadi and school systems is critical.
● Particularly the education component of the Anganwadi system must be adequately funded.
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Conclusion: FLN is critical for increasing the country’s productivity in terms of human capital. As a result, the government’s priority should be to raise learning and teaching standards.
Insta Links:
Needed, education data that engages the poor parent
Mains Links:
National Education Policy 2020 is in conformity with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (2030). It intends to restructure and reorient the education system in India. Critically examine the statement. (UPSC 2020)
