The achievement gap refers to the disparities in academic performance and educational outcomes between students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. In India, this gap is influenced by factors such as economic disparities, rural-urban divides, and varying educational infrastructures. Recognising and addressing this gap is crucial to ensure that every student has an equal opportunity to thrive academically.
The ASER 2023 ‘Beyond Basics’ survey, conducted across 28 districts in 26 states, highlights the stark reality of educational inequities in rural India. Surveying 34,745 youth aged 14-18, it found that while 86.8% are enrolled in educational institutions, enrolment drops sharply with age—32.6% of 18-year-olds are not enrolled. The survey also revealed that more than half of these students struggled with basic mathematics, a fundamental skill expected to be mastered by Classes 3 and 4…
