TV
Odisha has made significant progress in early childhood education, achieving near-universal enrollment in pre-primary institutions. The findings came to light in the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024 published by the Pratham NGO.
The survey carried out nationwide involved analysing over 6 lakh children across 605 rural districts. The report mentioned that Odisha, along with Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Telangana has achieved near-universal enrollment for the age group of 3 to 5 years.
Key Findings of ASER 2024:
As per the findings, over 95 percent of four-year-olds in Odisha are now enrolled in some form of pre-primary education, including Anganwadis, government pre-primary classes, and private preschools.
The ASER 2024 report also revealed a significant recovery in foundational literacy and numeracy skills among students in Odisha post the COVID-19 period. The percentage of Std III-V students who can read Std II-level text has risen from 41.6 percentage points in 2022 to 51.1 percentage points in 2024.
Similarly, the proportion of Std III-V students who can perform basic subtraction has increased from 66.3 percentage points in 2022 to 70.5 percentage points in 2024 with similar progress also being observed in Std VI-VIII students.
Odisha's government school enrollment rate for ages 6-14, which peaked at 92.1 percent in 2022, has slightly dropped to 88.6 percent in 2024. However, the reason for it was possibly a shift toward private education. However, overall school enrollment remains high at 98.1 percent. Further, attendance in government schools has remained steady at 86 percent, higher than several other states in the country.
On the other hand, digital access in Odisha has expanded, with 82.3 percent of children reporting smartphone availability at home. However, a gender gap persists, with girls having lower access and usage rates compared to boys.
While school infrastructure has improved, with 77.7 percent of schools now having drinking water facilities and 72 percent having functional girls' toilets, some rural and tribal areas still lack essential resources.
Notably, northern and central districts like Puri and Cuttack continued to outperform South Odisha, including districts like Koraput, Malkangiri, and Nabarangpur in literacy and numeracy, highlighting the need for targeted educational interventions.
Regardless, Odisha’s strong pre-primary enrollment and rising literacy levels mark a major educational milestone. With the NEP 2020 implementation on the cards, further improvement is anticipated.
A structured breakdown of the key findings from The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024 is as follows:
Enrollment Trends in Odisha
Government School Enrollment
The percentage of children aged 6-14 enrolled in government schools in Odisha has fluctuated. A slight decline from 2022 to 2024 suggests a possible shift toward private education or other factors affecting government school enrollment.
- 2018: 88.0 percent
- 2022: 92.1 percent
- 2024: 88.6 percent
Children Not Enrolled in School in Odisha
The percentage of children aged 6-14 not enrolled in school shows a minor increase in the dropout rate from 2022 to 2024, though the figures remain low.
- 2018: 1.5 percent
- 2022: 0.7 percent
- 2024: 1.1 percent
Learning Outcomes in Odisha
Foundational Literacy (Reading Skills) in Odisha
The percentage of students in Std III-V who can read Std II level text indicates a positive recovery in reading levels after a decline in 2022, possibly due to COVID-19 learning loss and subsequent recovery efforts.
- 2018: 49.1 percent
- 2022: 41.6 percent
- 2024: 51.1 percent
Meanwhile, a notable increase in reading proficiency among older students, reflecting improvements in remedial programs or curriculum implementation seen in Std VI-VIII students who can read Std II level text:
- 2018: 40.7 percent
- 2022: 40.3 percent
- 2024: 49.0 percent
Numeracy Skills (Arithmetic Competency)
Percentage of students in Std III-V who can do basic subtraction shows slight improvement in arithmetic skills.
- 2018: 68.7 percent
- 2022: 66.3 percent
- 2024: 70.5 percent
Percentage of students in Std VI-VIII who can do division:
- 2018: 37.3 percent
- 2022: 39.0 percent
- 2024: 44.4 percent
Regional Disparities within Odisha
Central Odisha (Cuttack, Khordha, Puri, etc.) shows higher literacy and numeracy rates compared to North and South Odisha.
South Odisha (Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur) continues to struggle with lower literacy and arithmetic levels, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Attendance Trends in Government Schools of Odisha
Government school attendance remains stable but with minor fluctuations. It is also to be noted that there is a slight drop from 2022, but still higher than in 2018, suggesting improved school engagement post-pandemic.
- 2018: 84.0 percent
- 2022: 87.9 percent
- 2024: 86.0 percent
Digital Access and Smartphone Usage in Odisha Students
82.3 percent of children in Odisha reported access to smartphones at home. However, girls showed lower digital access than boys, revealing a gender disparity in digital literacy. Further, while online learning participation is growing, challenges remain in rural connectivity and access to quality content.
School Infrastructure and Facilities in Odisha
- Schools with functional girls' toilets: 72 percent in 2024 (up from 66.4 percent in 2018).
- Schools with drinking water availability: 77.7 percent in 2024 (up from 74.8 percent in 2018).
- Schools with playgrounds: 66.2 percent (stable since 2018).
- Schools with teaching-learning materials (TLM): 51.3 percent in 2024 (significant improvement).
Summary:
The report has provided significant insights into the state of education in Odisha, covering key aspects like school enrollment, literacy, numeracy, attendance, and digital access. It has shown that enrollment rates remain high, but a minor drop in government school enrollment suggests a shift toward private schools.
Post-pandemic, learning levels in reading and numeracy have shown encouraging recovery. However, regional disparities remain a challenge, creating uneven progress.
Meanwhile, school attendance has slightly declined since 2022, indicating ongoing retention issues. Adding to these concerns, the digital divide persists, with boys having better access to technology than girls, impacting equitable learning opportunities.
On a positive note, infrastructure improvements, particularly in sanitation and drinking water, are progressing. However, playgrounds and digital learning resources still require attention, highlighting the need for a holistic approach to educational development.
