UNLEASHING INDIA'S POTENTIAL FROM THE MOST REMOTE CLASSROOMS

Learning levels provide an even more disturbing illustration of this divide. The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) reveals that only 47.3% of rural students in Class V can read a Class II level text, compared to 64.2% in urban areas.

- ALPANA MALLICK

Approximately 65% of India's population resides in rural areas, yet these regions significantly lag behind in educational outcomes. According to the National Statistical Office's survey, while urban areas boast a literacy rate of around 87.7%, rural regions stand at approximately 73.5% - a gap of over 14 percentage points that speaks volumes about systemic challenges.

Learning levels provide an even more disturbing illustration of this divide. The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) reveals that only 47.3% of rural students in Class V can read a Class II level text, compared to 64.2% in urban areas. Mathematics performance shows a similar trend, with rural students demonstrating significantly lower competency levels, resulting in a predisposed pathway to professional opportunity for these children.