Bengaluru A flagship nationwide survey released on Wednesday found that reading ability among children in primary classes of government schools in Karnataka has dropped by nearly half in the last two years, indicating not only the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic but also the inequitable development of the southern state.
As per the Annual Status of Education Report (Aser) for 2021, the proportion of pupils in the third grade who could read grade one texts in Karnataka dropped dramatically from 41.8 percent in 2018 to 24.2 percent in 2020. The research also shows a strong decline in children’s core skills, especially in the lower primary grades.
In reading, for example, the number of pupils in government schools in Standard 2 who were still unable to read even letters (beginners’ level) has risen by 13 percentage points since 2018. As per the study’s findings, the proportion of children in Std III who could read at least Std I level material dropped from 41.8 percent to 24.2 percent during the same period.
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