The ASER (Annual Status of Education Report) 2023, released in January, provided an extensive evaluation of the educational landscape in rural India. Covering 26 states, 28 districts, and 1664 villages, the report delved into the lives of 30,074 households and engaged with 34,745 youth, offering valuable insights into the state of education in the country.
Since 2005, the ASER survey has been a significant annual endeavour, transitioning to an alternate-year cycle in 2016. ASER aims to gather information on enrollment in preschool and school for children aged 3 to 16.
The ASER survey also conducts individual assessments for children aged 5 to 16, focusing on deciphering their foundational reading and arithmetic abilities. ASER 2022, the most recent iteration, reached nearly 7,00,000 children across all rural districts in India.
In 2017, ASER expanded its scope with ‘Beyond Basics,’ focusing on the activities, awareness, abilities, and aspirations of youth aged 14 to 18 in 28 districts across the country. ASER 2023 revisits this age group under the same theme, revealing major highlights specific to Mizoram.
In Mizoram, the ASER shed light on digital literacy among the youth. While there is no gender disparity in access to technology, with 99.4%(42.5% males and 40.8% females) of Mizo youth having access to smartphones, the report raises concerns about their proficiency in utilising digital tools. Despite high access to social media, with 97.1% of youth having accounts on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, the report indicates a lack of knowledge in utilising online services crucial for everyday life.
A concerning trend highlighted in the ASER is the educational status of youth aged 17-18 in Mizoram. About 45.6% of this demographic is not enrolled anywhere, with 52.9% being males and 39.1% females. Moreover, only 22.2% engage in work for more than 15 days a month, and a mere 1.7% are enrolled in vocational training courses.
What activities might these youth, who are neither enrolled in training nor employed, engage in during their free time? Recent instances, such as a girl who resorted to explicit means to earn money, underscore a growing trend of such incidents in the small hill state.
A careful analysis of the report suggests that the youth require training in digital skills and responsible use of social media. It raises a pertinent question about the potential implications for the education sector if the youth lack adequate digital and educational skills.
The analysis suggests a pressing need for digital and educational skills training among Mizoram’s youth. Equipping them with these skills is crucial for addressing concerns in the education sector and ensuring their constructive engagement in society.
The ASER also underscored the aspirations of the youth in the northeast, with a predominant focus on careers in the military. In Arunachal Pradesh, 7.4% of males and 2.4% of females are interested in joining the army. In Assam’s Kamrup district, the inclination toward military careers is more pronounced, with 20.4% of males and 4.4% of females aspiring to join the army.
Similarly, in Meghalaya, 10.1% of males and 2.2% of females share this ambition, while in Mizoram, the figures stand at 22.7% for males and 4.5% for females. Nagaland displays a significant inclination, with 30.5% of males and 4.4% of females aspiring to join the army, and in Tripura, 14.0% of males and 3.8% of females harbour the same ambition.
A noteworthy observation in the ASER reveals a gender-based disparity in career aspirations. While most males in Arunachal Pradesh aspire to become army personnel, a substantial number of females (18.0%) express interest in becoming doctors, with 15.7% aiming for nursing careers.
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This trend is also observed in Assam, where 17.4% and 17.8% of females express interest in becoming doctors and nurses, respectively. In Meghalaya and Mizoram, a considerable number of females aspire to become teachers, reaching around 18%, and in Nagaland, this percentage rises to 23.4%. In Tripura, both males and females demonstrate a high percentage of aspirations toward becoming doctors, the ASER noted.