In India, the concern in primary education has been the quality of education as envisaged under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). Despite the infrastructure and resources required for primary education, the quality could not be maintained. Pratham has been the first national NGO to address the issue. Pratham with the help of partner organisations conducted Annual Surveys of rural school children (20 villages in each district and 30 households in each village) since the year 2003 covering children between the age group of 6 to 14 years. It is basically a citizen driven survey, the largest initiative in the country.

The tools were developed in such a way for each state that the surveys could be conducted across the country (580 districts) simultaneously during September - October. The report has been published every year on 14th January at Delhi and shared with the district, state and national officials. The World Bank has recognized the ASER report and has appreciated the quality of the survey. The government has been accepting the report outcomes and acting upon the same.

The union ministers write to all state project directors of SSA and Commissioner of primary education to act on the recommendations at each district of each state.

SCOPE has been involved in participating in the survey in Dharwad district for 3 years. (2013, 2014 and 2015) SCOPE sensitized the district level officials and the community in each village.