The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023, titled “Beyond Basics,” has presented a sobering picture of the educational landscape for adolescents in Hathras and Varanasi, two districts in Uttar Pradesh. Conducted by the Pratham Foundation, the survey encompassed 28 districts across 26 states, surveying 34,745 students aged 14-18 in both government and private institutes.
Educational Challenges in Hathras: A Detailed Overview
In Hathras, the report indicates that 27% of adolescents aged 14-18 struggle to read fluently at a Class 2 level in Hindi. The challenges extend to 43.2% being unable to comprehend English sentences, and 44.4% facing difficulties in division. The report further reveals that 54% cannot calculate time, 73% grapple with measuring length, and 46% face challenges applying the unitary method. Even among those who can read at least a Class 1 level text, 38% cannot understand the text on a medicine packet and answer at least three out of four related questions.
Educational Landscape in Varanasi: Key Findings
In Varanasi, the ASER 2023 report highlights that 18% of adolescents face similar difficulties in Hindi, with 41.2% struggling in English and 46.4% in division. Additionally, 59% cannot calculate time, 62% grapple with measuring length, and 34.5% of those who can read at least a Class 1 level text cannot understand the text on a medicine packet and answer three out of four related questions.
Beyond Reading: Arithmetic Challenges
The report emphasizes that for arithmetic tasks, such as managing a budget, applying a discount, and calculating repayment, a significant percentage of students in both districts face challenges. Notably, males generally outperform females in application-based tasks.
