The surge in government school enrolments witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic has been almost entirely reversed, with the percentage of children aged 6–14 enrolled in government schools returning to near pre-pandemic levels. This was revealed in the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024, released on Tuesday.

According to the report, enrolment in government schools had risen from 65.6% in 2018 to 72.9% in 2022, driven largely by economic pressures and school closures during the pandemic. However, the figure has now declined to 66.8% in 2024, reflecting a return to pre-pandemic trends. Private school enrolment, which had been rising steadily since 2006, has resumed its growth trajectory.

Learning Levels Surpass Pre-Pandemic Standards

The report highlighted a full recovery from the pandemic-induced learning loss, with learning outcomes in primary grades improving in several areas. For instance, the proportion of Class 3 students able to read a Class 2-level text, which had dropped from 27.3% in 2018 to 20.5% in 2022, has rebounded to 27.1% in 2024.

Similarly, Class 5 students who could read Class 2-level text rose from 42.8% in 2022 to 48.8% in 2024, approaching the 2018 level of 50.5%.

“Low-performing states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu have shown remarkable progress, while other states are also steadily recovering,” the report noted.

Smartphone Usage and Digital Literacy

For the first time, the ASER survey included a section on digital literacy, focusing on children aged 14–16. The findings reveal that while over 82% of children in this age group know how to use a smartphone, only 57% reported using it for educational purposes in the previous week. In contrast, 76% admitted to using it for social media during the same period.

Decline in “Underage” Enrolment

The report also found a steady decline in the enrolment of underage children (aged five years or younger) in Class 1. The proportion dropped from 25.6% in 2018 to 22.7% in 2022, reaching an all-time low of 16.7% in 2024.

The ASER survey, facilitated by the NGO Pratham, is a nationwide assessment of education and learning in rural India. For its 2024 edition, the survey covered 6,49,491 children across 17,997 villages in 605 districts.

The report highlights the resilience of India’s education system in recovering from pandemic disruptions, while also pointing to emerging trends in digital literacy and shifting enrolment patterns.

Also read: Boys aged 14-18 are twice as likely as girls to own smartphones: ASER