25% Teens Can’t Read Grade 2 Text Fluently, Reveals ASER Survey

New Delhi: In a shocking revelation, it has come to light that 25% Indian teenagers in the age group of 14-18 years can’t read a grade 2nd level text fluently in their regional languages.

What’s more, at least 42.7% teens are not able to read sentences in English.

The findings are from the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) survey released on Wednesday.

Titled ‘Beyond Basics’, ASER 2023 — led by Pratham Foundation, an education-focussed non-profit organisation — surveyed 34,745 youths, mainly in rural India, enrolled in government and private institutes in 28 districts across 26 states.

According to the report, 86.8% among the 14-18 age bracket are enrolled in school or college, while the enrolment percentage drops with age.

The report said the proportion of youth currently not enrolled in school or college rises with age — from 3.9% of 14-year-olds to 10.9% of 16-year-olds and 32.6% of 18-year-olds.

The report revealed that nearly 85% of the surveyed boys and girls can measure length using a scale when the starting point is 0 cm, but the proportion drops to 39% when the starting point is moved.

In gender comparison, female students (76%) do better than males (70.9%) in reading grade 2nd level text in their regional language, while male students fare better in arithmetic and reading English text.