Higher education in Asian countries and the role of international ...

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The IGOs‟ policy reform initiatives have contributed positively to the change in the member
countries as in the majority of the countries, for the last two decades, policy reform process has
accelerated and resulted in responsive polices to serve better the needs of education sector. The
IGOs‟ Initiatives are contributing to the development of education at all levels through
motivating, encouraging, guiding, helping, and supporting the member countries. As a result, a
growth in the participation rate can be seen from primary to tertiary levels in all Asian countries.
The time series data on Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) and Net Enrolment Ratio (NER) at
primary, secondary and tertiary levels show an increase in all countries for both genders. But the
level and pace of the growth vary from country to county. Those Asian countries where literacy
rate and school life expectancy at all levels are still not very high such countries also showed a
high increase in the gross enrolment ratio (GER) in the last decade as compared to the growth
during 80s and 90s at primary, secondary and tertiary levels for same indicators. The World
Development Indicators (WDI) show that in all Asian countries the level, pace and stage of the
development is not the same. So a mere increase in the participation rate at higher education
level is no guarantee of socio-economic betterment of the society. It is also important that IGOs
and states focus economic productivity oriented education at higher level.