Irish classes among largest in Europe

IRELAND CONTINUES to under-invest in education compared to other OECD states, while class sizes here remain among the largest in Europe.

These are the main findings of the annual Education at a Glancesurvey published by the Paris-based OECD yesterday.

The report says Ireland invests 4.7 per cent of its GDP in education compared to an average of 5.7 per cent across 30 OECD countries.

At second-level, only one EU country – the Slovak Republic – invested a lower proportion of its GDP per capita on second-level students than Ireland.

Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe said the report showed Ireland in a good light in relation to completion and performance at second and third levels.

“But I would be the first to admit that there are many challenges that lie ahead for education in areas such as expenditure and class sizes.’’

On class size, the report shows that Irish primary schools have 24.5 pupils per class – the second largest of the EU countries surveyed. On average, there are four more pupils in Irish classes than in other EU countries.

Only Britain has larger classes than Ireland in the EU, with one more pupil per class.

Across the OECD, only Britain, Japan, Korea and Turkey have bigger classes than Ireland.

Sheila Nunan, incoming general secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), said the figures do not take into account increases in class sizes this month.

“The situation on the ground in schools is actually worse than the report suggests,” she said.

Mr O’Keeffe pointed to some positive findings in the report, including;

Between 2000 and 2006, total spending increased by 59 per cent for all levels of education in Ireland combined below higher level. This compares with an OECD average figure of 21 per cent;

Continuing improvements over time in completion of senior cycle – 83 per cent of 25-34 year olds here had completed upper-secondary education compared to 79 per cent across the OECD;

High rates of third-level completion among the 25-34 year olds at 44 per cent, compared to the OECD average at 34 per cent;

Above-average graduation rates in science and technology (the number of third-level graduates per 100,000 of population aged 25-34 in employment was the seventh-highest of any OECD country); and

Above-average performance at age 15 in science, according to the OECD Programme for International Assessment.

Last night, TUI general secretary Peter McMenamin said the report highlighted how we failed to invest in a strategic and meaningful manner in education when we had an economic boom.

John White of the ASTI said the report did not take into account the education cuts announced in last year’s budget and in the mini-budget in April. “But it does highlight the underfunding of education in this country even before the cuts.”

Ms Nunan said in terms of funding Ireland continued to lag behind other countries, and primary education suffered particularly badly. For every €6 spent at primary, €9 is spent at second level and €12 is spent at third level.