ABSTRACT
This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part provides a good review of the development of state schooling for ethnic minority females in China. It describes the improvements and outstanding educational performances of young girls in some Asian countries. Although education has been seen as an important way to raise the status and well-being of girls and women, education feminists remind us that achieving gender parity in enrolment figures is not enough. The schooling and educational development of young girls in most Asian countries have undergone substantial improvement. The World Economic Forum projects that South Asia may close the gender gap in education in as little as 46 years – much faster than Western Europe, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa or the Middle East and North Africa. Asia included are not representative, but rather synoptic of the key gender and education issues faced by those populating the Asian landmass.
