Unveiling Pratham's Annual Status of Education Report 2024: Transforming insights into action for India's education future
We’re proud to announce the release of our Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024, India’s largest citizen-led survey on education. Conducted by Pratham, this monumental effort provides critical insights into the state of education across rural India, shaping policies and driving meaningful change.
A nationwide effort for education data
This year’s survey reached an astounding 649,491 children across 17,997 villages in 605 rural districts. ASER evaluates enrolment levels, foundational reading and maths skills, early childhood education participation, and—for the first time—digital access, usage, and skills among 14-16-year-olds.
Key findings from ASER 2024
The findings highlight key trends in education, showcasing both progress and persistent challenges. The report remains an invaluable resource for educators, policymakers, and organisations working to build a brighter future for millions of young learners.
Enrolment in pre-primary institutions has significantly increased:
-Aged 3: Up by 9.3% (from 68.1% in 2018 to 77.4% in 2024)
-Aged 4: Up by 7.3% (from 76% in 2018 to 83.3% in 2024)
-Aged 5: Up by 12.9% (from 58.5% in 2018 to 71.4% in 2024)
Reading skills recover to pre-pandemic levels:
-Reading abilities in government schools have recovered to pre-pandemic levels and, in some cases, surpassed them
-Standard 3 students in government schools show the highest recorded reading levels since ASER began tracking in 2005, improving from 20.9% in 2008 to 23.4% in 2024
-Standard 5 students in government schools show significant progress, with reading levels recovering across all states in 2024.
Maths performance improved:
-Standard 3 students who could at least subtract rose from 20.9% in 2018 to 27.6% in 2024 – the highest it has been in over a decade!
-Standard 5 students who could at least do division increased from 20.7% in 2014 to 26.5% in 2024.
School retention improves for older children:
-Fewer children aged 15 to 16 are out of school, despite them falling outside of the dropping from 16.6% in 2014 to 7.9% in 2024. However, the percentage of girls out of school in this age group still remains higher than 10% in 2024, highlighting a persistent gender gap.
Improvement in school facilities and services:
-Small increases in school services and facilities such as midday meals, drinking water, and usable toilets are observed—consistent with trends over the past decade. Electricity and library access are also showing gradual improvement.
Why ASER 2024 matters
ASER’s findings continue to be instrumental in shaping education policies, interventions, and reforms at national, state, and local levels. By highlighting the realities of foundational learning across India, ASER provides evidence-based guidance for improving education outcomes and ensuring every child has the opportunity to learn and succeed.
Join the movement
Pratham remains committed to using ASER’s insights to inform action and create tangible change in education. Together, we can turn data into impact! Read the full ASER 2024 report here.