Report: Over 86.8% of individuals aged 14-18 in India are currently enrolled in educational institutions, as revealed by the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER). The study highlights a predominant preference for the humanities stream among more than half of these youngsters.
While the report identifies minimal gender disparities in enrollment, it underscores significant variations across age groups. Older youth exhibit a higher likelihood of being unenrolled, with percentages of 3.9% for 14-year-olds and 32.6% for 18-year-olds.
Comparing data to the previous year, the report indicates an increase in enrollment levels for children aged six to 14, rising from 96.6% in 2010 to 96.7% in 2014 and from 97.2% in 2018 to 98.4% in 2022.
The study notes that more than 55% of students in Classes 11-12 opt for humanities, followed by science and commerce. Additionally, it highlights a gender gap, with females being less likely to enroll in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) streams compared to males.
According to the report, only 5.6% of youngsters are currently undergoing vocational training or participating in related courses. Furthermore, it points out that 25% of individuals aged 14-18 cannot fluently read a Class-2 level text in their regional languages.
Contrary to concerns, the report refutes the notion that older students dropped out of school during the COVID-19 pandemic due to a loss of livelihood.
With inputs from PTI.