ASER 2024 Report Highlights Improvements in Early Childhood Education and Learning Levels

New Delhi, January 28, 2025 – The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024, released by Pratham Foundation, reveals significant improvements in early childhood education and learning levels across rural India. The survey, which reached 649,491 children in 17,997 villages across 605 rural districts, highlights key findings and trends in the education sector.

Key Findings:

• Increased Preschool Enrollment: The proportion of children aged 3-5 enrolled in some form of early childhood education program has risen to 77.4%. This marks a substantial increase from previous years and is a major achievement for the country.
• Improved Reading and Arithmetic Levels: Both reading and arithmetic levels have shown significant improvements, especially among children in Classes 1 to 3. This is an encouraging development after the learning losses experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Digital Literacy: For the first time, the ASER survey recorded digital literacy among older children (15-16 years), providing insights into their access to and usage of digital tools.
• Underage Enrollment: The proportion of underage students (age 5 or below) entering standard I has decreased to 16.7%, the lowest figure ever recorded.
• Government School Enrollment: Enrollment in government schools has reached 66.8%, close to pre-pandemic levels, with significant improvements in reading and arithmetic skills.

Implications:

The ASER 2024 report underscores the importance of early childhood education and the need for continued efforts to improve learning outcomes. The findings also highlight the positive impact of government initiatives such as the National Education Policy (NEP) and the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN) Bharat.

Dr. Rukmini Banerjee, CEO of Pratham, emphasized the need for sustained focus on foundational literacy and numeracy to ensure that children are well-prepared for future educational challenges.