ASER 2023 highlights gender disparity in rural youth's digital access
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New Delhi: The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023 has brought attention to a significant gender gap in digital access and literacy among rural Indian youth aged 14 to 18.
The findings reveal that male youth dominate smartphone ownership, with more than double the likelihood of owning smartphones compared to their female counterparts. Additionally, females are less proficient in using smartphones or computers than males.
ASER 2023, after a six-year hiatus, refocuses on assessing the reading and maths proficiency of rural Indian youth aged 14 to 18, evaluating their access to digital tools and skills. Covering 28 districts across 26 states with responses from 34,745 youngsters, the survey highlights crucial insights into the digital landscape.
The report indicates that 89% of all youth have a smartphone in the household, with 92% possessing the knowledge to use it. However, within this cohort, males (43.7%) are more than twice as likely to own smartphones compared to females (19.8%).
Beyond ownership, the survey examines the ability to perform digital tasks, revealing that females are less aware of operating smartphones or computers than males. The gender gap extends to tasks such as setting an alarm, searching for YouTube videos, sharing content, and using Google Maps.
For educational purposes, two-thirds of youth who can use smartphones report having used them for educational activities.
However, there's a noticeable gender difference in performing tasks like making online payments, filling out forms, or using online services. Moreover, cybersecurity awareness remains a concern, with only about half of the youth familiar with online safety settings.
The ASER 2023 emphasises the correlation between reduced female capacity in various digital tasks and the constraint resulting from the absence of device ownership. The findings underscore the importance of addressing gender disparities in digital access and literacy for overall development.