ASER 2024: Education Trends in Odisha – An Analytical Overview

By Abhay Prasad Giri

Teacher

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Abstract

The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024 provides a comprehensive analysis of the education system in India, focusing on learning outcomes, enrollment patterns, and school infrastructure. This article highlights Odisha's educational landscape as presented in the ASER 2024 report, examining key improvements, challenges, and policy recommendations to enhance education quality in the state.

Introduction

Odisha has been consistently working towards improving its education system, focusing on foundational literacy, numeracy, and school infrastructure. The ASER 2024 report offers valuable insights into the state's current educational status, highlighting progress in school enrollments, learning levels, and infrastructural facilities while also addressing the gaps that need urgent intervention.

Methodology

The ASER 2024 survey in Odisha covered all 30 districts and utilized a sample-based approach to collect data on student enrollment, literacy, and arithmetic skills. The survey was conducted at the household level and in schools to ensure a holistic understanding of the state's education status.

Key Findings

School Enrollment and Attendance

- Government school enrollment for children aged 6-14 in Odisha stands at 88.6% in 2024, a slight decline from 92.1% in 2022.

- The percentage of children not enrolled in any school remains low at 1.1%, indicating that dropout rates have been well managed.

Learning Outcomes

- Reading Proficiency: 66% of students in Std III-V can read a Std II-level text, marking an improvement from 53.9% in 2022.

- Arithmetic Skills: 63.1% of Std III-V students can perform basic subtraction, showing an increase from 52.2% in 2022.

- Higher-Grade Performance: Among Std VI-VIII students, 53.8% can perform division, reflecting a rise from 46.0% in 2022.

Pre-Primary Education

- Odisha has achieved near-universal enrollment in pre-primary education, with over 95% of 3-5-year-old children attending Anganwadi centers or LKG/UKG classes.

Digital Learning and Infrastructure

- Smartphone access for students has increased, with 77.7% of households reporting smartphone ownership for learning purposes.

- School infrastructure has improved, with higher availability of libraries, functional toilets, and drinking water facilities.

Challenges Identified

- Regional Disparities: Southern Odisha lags behind in arithmetic skills, with only 30.2% of students in Std III-V performing at the expected level.

- Gender Gap in Digital Literacy: Girls in rural Odisha still face limited opportunities to engage in online learning compared to boys.

- Decline in Government School Enrollment: There has been a decline in government school enrollment, possibly due to a shift towards private schools.

Policy Recommendations

1. Targeted Interventions in Low-Performing Regions: Special focus should be given to districts in southern Odisha to enhance arithmetic proficiency.

2. Strengthening Digital Education: Expand access to digital learning resources and ensure equitable usage among boys and girls.

3. Teacher Training Enhancement: Implement continuous professional development programs for teachers to improve classroom engagement.

4. Community Engagement: Strengthen collaboration between schools and communities to encourage parental involvement in education.

Conclusion

Odisha's education system has made significant progress, as highlighted in the ASER 2024 report. While school enrollments and literacy levels have improved, challenges remain in arithmetic learning, digital literacy, and regional disparities. Focused policy interventions and continued investment in foundational learning will be essential to ensure inclusive and equitable education for all children in the state.

References

ASER Centre. (2024). Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024. New Delhi: ASER Centre.