Himachal Pradesh Shines in Education, Tops Reading Levels in ASER 2024

Himachal Pradesh has emerged as a leader in student reading levels, according to the 2024 Annual Status of Education Report (ASER). The report highlights impressive strides in learning outcomes, infrastructure, and digital literacy in the state’s schools, though challenges remain with stagnant school enrollment and increasing dropout rates among older students.

The ASER 2024 report, which evaluated 268 schools in Himachal, found that 46.6% of Class III students in government schools can easily read a Class II Hindi textbook—almost double the national average of 23.4%. This marks a 10 percentage point improvement since 2022. Himachal also ranked third in reading proficiency among Class VIII students, following Mizoram and Kerala.

In terms of infrastructure, Himachal leads the nation in access to drinking water in government schools, with 90.4% of schools having functional facilities, up from 88% in 2022. The state also ranks third in digital literacy, measured by smartphone availability, and third in library book availability, behind Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Despite these achievements, the report raises concerns about stagnant school enrollment. While younger students benefit from improved conditions, the dropout rate among 15 to 16-year-olds has risen from 2.2% in 2022 to 3% in 2024. Education Minister Rohit Thakur acknowledged the progress but stressed the need for further improvements, noting that Himachal ranked 21st in the National Achievement Survey.

The report also highlights gains in mathematics comprehension among government school students and a significant boost in the mid-day meal program, which now reaches 95% of students, up from 91% in 2022.

While Himachal Pradesh has made remarkable progress in education, the government faces the challenge of reducing dropout rates and ensuring sustained enrollment to maintain this positive trajectory. The ASER 2024 findings are expected to guide future policy decisions aimed at further strengthening the state’s education sector.