State education funding fails to make grade

THE Government spends less on pre-school education than the majority of developed countries, a report has found.

The survey by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) also found that, despite economic growth, the level of investment in education was not increased in 2000.

The findings come as the Government faces a series of one-off strikes at dozens of schools, with teachers threatening to walk out over the lack of investment in substandard buildings.

The OECD report found only 40% of funding for pre-primary education comes from the State, the second lowest level in the 30 countries surveyed.

Only South Korea's government contributes less just 26%. The average spend in the OECD is 83%.

The lack of Government investment was criticised by the National Parents Council (Primary). Chief executive Fionnuala Kilfeather said if children are to be given the best possible start, then more money is needed.

"There are some Government-funded projects but there has to be more State assistance, with monitored teaching, so parents have the choice of sending their children to affordable pre-schools," she said.

The Department of Education last night acknowledged public spending on pre-primary education is low compared to other OECD countries.

"It should be remembered, however, that most of the money spent in that sector is targeted towards disadvantaged areas," a spokesperson said.

However, Fine Gael said the department has no handle on pre-primary education and children are falling between the cracks before starting in primary as the Department of Health oversees childcare facilities.

"A properly regulated pre-school system could be very valuable but we shouldn't have to rely on the private sector to provide it," said FG education spokesperson Olwyn Enright.

Irish 15-year-olds were ranked fifth out of 19 OECD countries in reading literacy. However, we scored considerably worse in numerical literacy, slipping to 16th.

The report also notes Ireland has a highly educated young population with just under 50% of 25 to 34-year-olds holding a third-level qualification, the second highest rate in the OECD.