Himachal Students’ Reading Level Tops the Country, Surpassing Kerala
Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024
Shimla, January 30: In a remarkable achievement, the students of Himachal Pradesh have been ranked the best in the country for their reading skills, surpassing even Kerala. This achievement was revealed in the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024, which highlights the performance of students across India. According to the report, 46.6% of class III students in Himachal are able to easily read the Hindi textbook of class II, a figure that is more than double the national average of 23.4%. This impressive performance not only puts Himachal ahead of Kerala but also reflects the state’s commitment to improving education at the grassroots level.
Significant Rise in Pre-Primary Enrollment
The report also shows a positive trend in the enrollment of young children in pre-primary classes across Himachal Pradesh. In 2024, 87.5% of three-year-olds, 93.1% of four-year-olds, and 85.4% of five-year-olds were enrolled in pre-primary education, marking a significant improvement in early childhood education in the state.
Mathematics Performance: Mandi and Sirmaur Lag Behind
While Himachal Pradesh students excel in reading, the ASER 2024 report points out weaknesses in mathematics among class VIII students in Mandi and Sirmaur districts. The report found that students in these districts were particularly weak in division. Only 33% of class VIII students in Mandi and 39% in Sirmaur could perform division tasks. In contrast, districts like Hamirpur, Una, Bilaspur, and Solan showed stronger performance in these subjects.
Additionally, the survey revealed that 51% of the students in Mandi and 56% in Sirmaur struggled with solving subtraction problems in class V. This indicates the need for targeted interventions to strengthen mathematics education in these areas.
Division and Subtraction Skills: A Mixed Performance
The report further shows mixed results in students’ abilities to solve division and subtraction questions across different districts. While 68% of students in Bilaspur, 70% in Hamirpur, and 75% in Kinnaur passed the subtraction test, other districts like Mandi and Sirmaur had lower success rates. Similarly, in the class VIII division test, only 51% of Himachal’s students passed, with Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand students outperforming them.
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Technology Usage Among Students
Another notable finding from the ASER report is the high level of technology adoption among Himachal Pradesh’s children. The report reveals that 24.3% of children under the age of 14 in the state own smartphones, with 94% of them being able to use them efficiently. The usage of smartphones is even higher among teenagers, with 34.9% of 15-year-olds and 47.9% of 16-year-olds owning their devices. Additionally, 96.2% of children in the 14-16 age group are proficient at searching videos on YouTube, and 92.2% can find information online, showing that technology is playing a significant role in the educational landscape of Himachal.
Himachal’s Performance Compared to Other States
When compared to other states, Himachal Pradesh’s fifth-class students performed better than those in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajasthan in solving division problems. With 47% of Himachal’s fifth-class students successfully completing division questions, the state outperformed all other states except Punjab, where 48% of students succeeded.
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In class VIII, however, Himachal fell behind other states in the division test, with only 51% passing, whereas students from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand achieved higher success rates.
The ASER 2024 report highlights the outstanding reading skills of Himachal Pradesh’s students, marking the state’s education system as a leader in the country. While there are challenges in mathematics, particularly in certain districts like Mandi and Sirmaur, the overall performance of Himachal’s students is commendable. The state is also witnessing a positive shift in the use of technology, with children gaining more access to smartphones and online resources. Moving forward, targeted efforts to improve mathematical skills, particularly in the underperforming districts, will help maintain the state’s educational excellence.
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