As it has almost been a tradition since 2005, except during the COVID-19 years, the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023 was released in mid-January this year. And, as it has also become customary, the report has got much attention. Amidst a surfeit of insights that the report has offered, what has grabbed the headlines is the foundational skills of 14-18 year olds. As much as the learning outcomes data is concerning, practitioners and policymakers must dig deeper into the data to glean actionable insights for improving education and overall outcomes for India’s adolescents and youth.
On foundational learning trajectories
First, the ASER 2023 Beyond Basics survey was carried out in 28 rural districts across 26 States of the country. While the sample is not nationally representative, it is still representative of the district level and indicative of broader trends of the activities, abilities (including digital abilities), and aspirations of 14-18 year olds. The report shows that, overall, 26% of 14-18 year olds cannot read a standard two level text in their regional language.
