ASER 2024: In rural Punjab, only 34% class III kids can read basic text but arithmetic skills improve significantly

The survey has also found that gains in learning levels has been higher among government school children than those studying in private in Punjab. The survey has further found significant increase in pre-primary enrollments in Punjab indicating a shift towards a better foundation before entering class 1.

The ASER Rural India report has been released after two years, after the last was published in 2022. This time, the survey has been conducted across 17997 villages across 605 districts across the country, surveying 6.49 lakh children aged 3 to 16 years. In Punjab, it has been conducted in 600 villages across 20 districts. A total of 20, 226 children have been surveyed in Punjab.

The survey has been conducted in three age-wise categories: under 6, 6-14 and 15-16.

While the children aged 6 to 14 have been surveyed for basic reading and arithmetic skills, those aged 15-16 have been surveyed for digital skills. For instance, over 92 per cent children aged 15-16 could find a video on a specific topic on their smartphones and share it with their family or friends, but only 87 per cent could set an alarm on their phones, the survey has found.

Reading and arithmetic levels (class 3)

The children were made to read basic class-2 level text in either Punjabi or English as per their choice. Only 34.2% children from class-3 could read the basic text (full sentences and a paragraph), one percent higher than 33% than 2022 findings.

However, the arithmetic problem solving has shown a significant improvement. At least 51.1% children from class-3 could do at least subtraction, 6% higher than 44.8% in 2022.

In both categories, Punjab has performed better than the national average of 27% (reading) and 33.7% (arithmetic).

Reading and arithmetic levels (class 5)

In case of class-5 children too, the arithmetic levels have shown a significant improvement but reading levels have registered a decline. The class-5 children were also made to read basic class-2 level text and solve a division problem (3 digit by 1 digit).

Only 61.4% of them could read class-2 level text, lower than 66.2% in 2022. However, 48.8% could solve the division problem, 7 per cent higher than 41.1% in 2022.

Nationally, 48.8% of children can read basic text and 30.7% could solve basic division problem.

Pre-primary enrollment in Punjab

Punjab has a very high pre-school age coverage and more than 85% children aged 3 and 4 are enrolled in some type of early childhood education programme or pre-primary school, the survey has found.

At least 85.9 per cent children aged 3, at least 92 per cent aged 4 and 73.5 percent aged 5 were found to be enrolled in some kind of school, according to the report. These figures are higher than national numbers for the same – 77.4% aged 3 and 83.4% aged 4 are enrolled in pre-primary.

In 2024, Punjab government pre-primary classes witnessed a substantial increase (13.5%), finds the ASER 2024.

More children studying in Punjab’s govt schools than private

Among the children who were surveyed, more were found to be studying in Punjab’s government schools than private. At least 58 per cent children aged 6 to 14 were in government schools, and 41.3 per cent in private. In 2022, the government school enrollment was 58.8% and private was 40.4%. More than 99% surveyed children in this age group were getting school education, says the report.

Older children (15-16) tested for digital skills

The adolescents were tested for digital skills for ASER 2024. In Punjab, 96.2% children from this age group said they had a smartphone at home, higher than 89.1% nationally. At least 94.2% said they can use a smartphone, while 46% owned their own phone (higher than 31.4% nationally). In Punjab, 79.4% could bring a smartphone to do tasks on the day of the survey.
Of three digital tasks given to the children: 87.8% could set an alarm clock on the phone, 85.4% could browse for information and 92.5% could find a video on a specific topic and share it ahead via WhatsApp or Telegram.

Prabhsimran Singh, zonal manager (Punjab), ASER centre, Delhi, said: “The significant improvement in arithmetic problem solving abilities of the children might be because of the NIPUN Bharat Mission which is being run across the country to improve the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) skills. It needs to be found why the reading levels haven’t shown an improvement in Punjab. However, the learning gains have been higher in government school children than in private.”