Kerala, renowned as God’s own country, boasts a commendable Human Development Index (HDI), excelling in healthcare, education, and quality of life. However, beneath this facade lies a concerning reality that demands our attention.

Alarming Statistics:

The ASER Report of 2022 reveals shocking facts about fundamental literacy levels among grade 2 children in Govt./Govt-aided schools in Kerala:

63.7% of grade 2 children cannot read simple English words.

74.9% cannot read easy sentences in English.

25.3% of those who can read sentences cannot tell their meanings.

The 2022 ASER report also highlights troubling trends in traditional learning outcomes in India, depicting a negative trajectory over the years. 

For example:

In 2018, 27.3% of class 3 children could read at the level of class 2; however, this figure dropped to 20.5% in 2022.

Despite Kerala’s initially higher reading levels, the percentage decreased from 52.1% in 2018 to 38.7% in 2022.

The National Achievement Survey of 2021 further emphasizes the urgency, indicating that:

43% of grade 5 children cannot read text with comprehension, locate details, and sequence of events.

49% of grade 10 children cannot read, comprehend, or respond to complex texts independently.

 Introducing the ‘Begin’ Program:

 Recognizing the pressing need to address these issues, we are proud to introduce the three-year-long “Begin” program, designed to support socially and economically disadvantaged children aged 7-9 (grades 2 to 4) in Kerala.

 First-Year Focus:

 During the first year, the children of grade 2 will develop:

 Oral language skills, including improved listening comprehension, oral vocabulary, and basic conversation skills.

 Decoding skills involving reading written words based on understanding the relationship between symbols and their sounds.

 Reading fluency, referring to the ability to read a text with accuracy, speed, expression, and comprehension.

 Capacity for reading comprehension, involving understanding texts, retrieving information, and interpreting texts.

 Writing skills, including the competency to write letters and words with expression.

Our goal is simple: empower children to ‘learn to read’ so they can ‘read to learn’ in the coming years.

I will share more about what we do in the second and third year of the program in subsequent posts. Stay tuned!