ASER 2022 | Proportion of out-of-school girls falls to record 2% in 2022; Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh areas of concern

ASER 2022 noted that despite the overall decline, three States — Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh — were a cause of concern with over 10% girls out of school

The proportion of out-of-school girls in India declined to the lowest ever rate of 2% in 2022, according to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2022 released on January 18.

The report also noted that despite the overall decline, three States — Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh — were a cause of concern with over 10% girls out of school.

The overall proportion of out-of-school girls was 4.1% in 2018 and 10.3% in 2006.

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“This is even more stark as nationally now lesser number of older girls in the 15 to 16 age group are out of school. Cause of concern, however, are the three States, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, which continue to have more than 10% of these older age group girls out of schools,” the report said.

ASER is a nationwide, citizen-led household survey that provides a snapshot of children’s schooling and learning in rural India. The first ASER survey was conducted in 2005 and repeated annually for 10 years.

ASER 2022 is the first field-based “basic” survey after a gap of four years. It also comes at a time when children are back in school after an extended period of school closure in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.