The ‘Annual Status of Education Report (Rural) 2024’ has highlighted a notable shift in government school enrolment in rural India. The report reveals that enrolment for children aged 6-14 in government schools has declined from 72.9% in 2022 to 66.8% in 2024. Despite an overall enrolment rate of 98.1% for this age group, the drop in government school enrolment indicates a post-pandemic trend towards private institutions.
Post-Pandemic Shift Towards Private Schools
During the COVID-19 pandemic, economic pressures forced many families to opt for government schools, boosting enrolment temporarily. However, as the situation normalized, the enrolment in government schools has reverted to pre-pandemic levels of around 66-67%. This shift raises concerns about the accessibility and quality of education provided by government institutions.
Decreasing Out-of-School Adolescents
The report highlights a positive trend in reducing the proportion of out-of-school adolescents aged 15-16. This number has decreased from 13.1% in 2018 to 7.5% in 2024, reflecting improved educational access for older children. However, significant learning gaps persist, especially among students in higher grades. In particular, only 45.8% of Class 8 students can perform basic arithmetic, a statistic that has remained unchanged in recent years.
Gender Disparities in Digital Literacy
The report also points out a gender gap in digital literacy, with boys outperforming girls in most states. While digital awareness has increased post-COVID, with over 90% of households owning smartphones, only 57% of children use them for educational purposes. Interestingly, states like Kerala and Karnataka show a reversal of this trend, with girls often matching or outperforming boys in digital skills.
Infrastructure and Facilities in Rural Schools
Infrastructure continues to be a challenge in many rural areas. Schools in states like Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland still lack basic amenities like usable toilets and drinking water. While the proportion of schools with usable girls’ toilets has risen to 72% (up from 66.4% in 2018), progress in sports facilities has been minimal, with only 66.2% of schools having playgrounds.
Foundational Learning Progress
Despite these challenges, there have been notable improvements in foundational learning, especially in government schools. The proportion of Class 3 students who can read a Class 2-level text has increased from 16.3% in 2022 to 23.4% in 2024. Similarly, arithmetic proficiency has improved, with 27.6% of Class 3 students able to solve a subtraction problem, up from 20.2% in 2022. These gains highlight the positive impact of foundational literacy and numeracy programs.
Pre-Primary Education and Attendance Rates
Pre-primary education has made significant strides, with near-universal enrolment among children aged 3-5 years in states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Odisha. The enrolment of underage children in Class 1 has decreased from 25.6% in 2018 to 16.7% in 2024, ensuring age-appropriate admissions. Additionally, teacher and student attendance have improved, with teacher attendance rising to 87.5% in 2024 (from 85.1% in 2018), and student attendance increasing to 75.9% (from 72.4%).
Digital Literacy and Technological Integration
Digital literacy among children aged 14-16 has seen significant progress, with over 75% of students able to perform tasks like setting alarms, browsing the internet for information, and sharing content via messaging platforms. However, the report underscores the need to address persistent issues such as learning gaps in higher grades, gender inequality in digital access, and inadequate infrastructure.
Conclusion
The ASER 2024 report reflects both progress and challenges in rural India’s education system. While foundational learning and pre-primary enrolment show promising improvements, the decline in government school enrolment and persistent learning gaps require urgent attention. Addressing these issues, along with gender disparities in digital access and infrastructural shortcomings, will be crucial to ensuring equitable and quality education for all children in rural India.
