Hyderabad: In Telangana’s Khammam district, only 21.5 per cent of youth aged 14-16 and 18 per cent of females aged 17- 18 can solve basic division problems, according to the Annual Status of Education Report (AESR) 2023: Beyond Basics, released last week.
According to the ASER report, nationally, 43.3 per cent of 14-18 year olds can do such problems correctly.
The report provides a detailed look at the educational and skill-based status of rural youth aged 14-18 in India across 28 districts of 26 states, including findings from Telangana’s Khammam district. It focuses on critical educational and developmental indicators among youth aged 14-18.
The findings reveal trends in enrollment skill development, gender disparities and digital inclusion.
The survey was conducted across 59 villages, covering 709 youth from 689 households. When it comes to foundational skills, many youth are struggling to meet basic standards in reading, arithmetic, and English.
Only 50.3 per cent of the surveyed youth could read at least a Standard II-level text, with 62.9 per cent boys and 38.6 per cent girls. Further, only around 40 percent of them could read simple sentences in English.
Similarly, proficiency in basic division is low, with only 21.5 per cent of youth aged 14 to 16 and 18.0 percent of females aged 17 to 18 able to solve division problems.
Further, practical skills related to daily life show mixed results. Tasks such as measuring, budgeting, and calculating repayments remain challenging for many, particularly harder measurements or financial calculations.
While 47.3 per cent of youth could manage a basic budget, only 33.4 per cent could apply discounts, and 7.7 per cent of females could calculate repayment amounts.
Digital access and usage paint a picture of growing but uneven adoption. About 69 per cent of youth reported access to a smartphone at home, but ownership remains low at just 32 per cent, with boys owning more than girls. Despite these challenges, many youths demonstrated familiarity with basic online tasks like finding videos, browsing for information, or using Google Maps.
However, digital safety awareness, especially among girls, remains limited, with fewer knowing how to block or report inappropriate content online.
The enrollment trends show a stable rate, with 66 percent of youth attending schools or colleges. However, disparities emerge with age and gender.
Among 14 to 16-year-olds, the majority are enrolled in schools, while older youth aged 17 to 18 are more likely to pursue higher education. About 22 per cent of the older group, however, are not enrolled, which suggests that dropouts remain an issue.
