THE OECD report has drawn a furious response from the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI), which claims its “dated’’ findings are only of “archaeological’’ relevance.
It described elements of the report as being “beyond historic” in terms of its current relevance.
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation said on average Irish teachers earn less than workers with similar education levels and years of experience in Ireland. Teachers in Ireland, it said, earned on average 88 per cent of the income of workers with similar education levels in Ireland.
While the report showed Irish teachers on average earning above Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development levels of salary, they do less well than similarly qualified graduates in Ireland, the INTO said. At primary level, the report shows Irish teachers teaching 20 per cent longer than the EU average.
The report shows how average spending per student at all levels of education relative to gross domestic product per capita is among the lowest of the OECD countries. Below-average figures at primary and third-level bring Irish spending well below the OECD average. At primary level, Ireland ranks 25th of 32 countries.
Overall spending on education was 5.6 per cent of GDP in 2008, up on the 2007 figure of 4.7 per cent, but still below the OECD average at 5.9 per cent in 2008.
Despite relative under-investment, more pupils complete second-level here than in other countries. In the 1960s, 48 per cent of students went on to finish second-level (the OECD average was 61 per cent). Today, 91 per cent finish second-level compared to 82 per cent across the OECD. Ireland is the third highest OECD country for school completion.
Ireland also recorded the second highest growth in students getting to college between 1999 and 2009. Third-level completion in Ireland is 48 per cent, well above the OECD average of 37 per cent, or EU21 at 34 per cent.
