Sample size sparks debate over ASER 2025’s accuracy

The Maharashtra School Education Department has raised concerns over the sample size of the Annual Status of Education Report ASER 2025 which surveyed only a small fraction of the states schools and studentsWhile the department questions its accuracy educators and parents argue that the report sheds light on broader issues within the education system Despite the limited sample the findings highlight key trends such as improvements in reading and math proficiency digital access and school enrolment prompting a call for urgent reformsThe Maharashtra Primary Education Council noted that the ASER survey covered just 872 rural schoolsmdash081 per cent of the statersquos 108144 schoolsmdashand 33746 students or 016 per cent of Maharashtrarsquos 209 crore schoolchildren The department also flagged discrepancies in digital infrastructure stating that while ASER claims only 204 per cent of students use computers 7295 per cent of schools have computer facilitiesThe report highlighted a 109 per cent rise in reading proficiency in government schools 202224 compared to 81 per cent in private schools Math skills improved by 131 per cent in government schools and 115 per cent in private ones placing Maharashtra among the top five states in mathematical proficiency growth for thirdgrade studentsGovernment school reading proficiency improved by 109 per cent between 2022 and 2024 the statement reads adding that 98 per cent of children aged 1516 are enrolled in school and the states outofschool children rate is just 04 per cent much lower than the national average of 19 per centThe department also highlighted that 942 per cent of students aged 1416 have access to smartphones at home and 633 per cent use them for educational purposes Enrolment in preprimary education has increased from 939 per cent in 2022 to 95 per cent in 2024The Maharashtra School Education Department has reiterated that while ASER surveys offer valuable insights their findings must be interpreted cautiously due to their limited scope With less than 1 per cent of the total schools surveyed and a very small fraction of students covered the department believes that broader datasets such as those from UDISE provide a more accurate representation it statedAn official emphasised that Maharashtra has made significant progress in school infrastructure and learning outcomes but a more extensive survey framework is needed for a holistic evaluation The purpose of the statement is not to declare whether the report is correct or incorrect Only the negative points were highlighted in the media In reality as per UDISE records the current status of the state has been comparatively presented the official told middayDespite this Pratham has yet to respond The ASER Maharashtra report is expected to be released soon by Chief Minister Devendra FadnavisMahendra Ganpule spokesperson for the Maharashtra School Principals Association defended ASERs reliability saying Pratham reports are highly reliable as they assess data at the grassroots level Instead of focusing on the sample size the department should address the issues highlighted in the report like the burden of nonacademic work on teachersParent Shireesh Page added The sample size is not the issue it represents a larger trend that helps rural schools improve