58% of rural teens can read basic English, reveals survey

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: In a marker of the growing appeal of English in rural India, more than 58% of teenagers were able to read sentences in the language during a survey of 30,000 rural children across 24 states.

The survey, for the recently released Annual School Education Report 2017 (ASER 2017), also found that 79% of children who could read English also understood the meaning of the sentences. The ability to read English sentences was found in 53% of 14-year-olds and it increased to 60% among 18-year-olds.

The figures are significant as the survey was done among rural teens (aged 14 to 18), 25% of whom could not still read basic text fluently in their own language.

‘English seen as stepping stone to higher studies, jobs’

The rising proficiency in English correlates with growing aspiration among the children surveyed, 60% of whom want to study beyond Class XII. By contrast, just 35% of those who could not read Class II level text fluently wanted to continue studies beyond Class XII. The ASER 2017 indicates that a large proportion of 14- to 18-year-olds can at least read simple texts. The age group selected for the latest survey is also the first batch of the Right of Children to free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009, which guarantees elementary schooling to all children in the age group of 6-14 years. The Act came into effect from April 2010.

Ashok K Ganguly, educationist and former CBSE chairperson, said, “Parents are realising that their kids have to compete at the national level. Knowledge of English is also needed to succeed in professional courses. So parents have started motivating their wards to learn English,” Ganguly said.

Ashok Pandey, principal, Ahlcon International, Delhi, said, The perception is that if you have to go for higher studies and get a good job, you have to be proficient in English.”

Source: Times of India, 22-01-2018