Growth of Higher Education and Its Relationship with Per Capita Gross Domestic Product in Cambodia
In Viracheat, Dr. Tapas R. Dash

Abstract
The study attempts to assess the growth of higher education in general and province-wise disparities in the growth of higher education in particular in the Kingdom of Cambodia over the period 1999-2000 to 2008-09. Further, the study examines the relationship between the gross enrollment ratio (GER) in higher education and the per capita gross domestic product (GDP) at constant prices. In addition, an attempt is made to know the impact of per capita GDP on the total enrollment in higher education in the Kingdom over the study period 2000-2009. The study reveals that higher education in Cambodia during the last decade has witnessed phenomenal expansion. This has brought spectacular changes in terms of size, enrollment and number of teachers, etc. However, wide variations are observed in several indicators of educational development among the provinces in the country. The correlation coefficient between the gross enrollment ratio (GER) in higher education and the per capita gross domestic product is 0.992, which suggests that the two are positively correlated. Finally, from the regression analysis it is also revealed that the per capita GDP has significant positive impact on the growth of total enrollment in higher education in the country. Against the findings of the study, it is suggested that public policy should be towards expansion of higher education in the country and to derive utmost benefits from higher education both by individuals and society at large, variations in the development of higher education among the provinces in the country should be eliminated.

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