Govt school enrollment returns to pre-pandemic levels

New Delhi

The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) released on Tuesday highlights a reversal in government school enrolment. Following a surge during the Covid-19 pandemic, the proportion of children aged 6-14 years enrolled in government schools has returned to 2018 levels. However, the report indicates that the learning losses caused by the pandemic have been fully recovered, with primary grade learning levels exceeding previous standards in some cases.

Private School Enrolment on the Rise

Private school enrolment in rural India has been steadily increasing since 2006. During the pandemic, government school enrolment rose sharply to 72.9% in 2022, compared to 65.6% in 2018. By 2024, however, this number has dropped to 66.8%, nearly matching pre-pandemic levels.

Learning Outcomes Show Significant Improvement

The ASER report reveals a strong recovery in learning outcomes. The percentage of Class 3 children reading at a Class 2 level rose from 20.5% in 2022 to 27.1% in 2024. Additionally, the percentage of Class 5 children in Class 4 who can read a Class 2-level text improved to 48.8% in 2024.

Digital Literacy Among Children

The report also highlights that 82% of children aged 14-16 know how to use a smartphone, though only 57% use it for educational purposes. Furthermore, the percentage of underage children in Class 1 has decreased, reaching its lowest at 16.7% in 2024.