Ireland bottom of class in school funding report

THE Government has been accused of grossly under-funding the education system after an international report revealed Ireland continues to lag behind most developed countries on school investment.

Last night, Education Minister Noel Dempsey admitted more money must be provided for primary schools, despite the increases in overall spending.

As 57,000 students collect Junior Certificate results today, an Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) analysis of global education shows only the Slovak Republic spends less per second-level student as a proportion of national income.

It also shows that the proportion of national income spent on education fell by 0.1% to 4.3% in 2001 and is below spending in all but five OECD countries.

‘Education at a Glance 2004’, shows the average annual spend per primary pupil is E4,582, placing us 20th of 27 OECD countries with an average spend of E5,900. The Government’s E6,421 spend per second-level student, compared to an average of E8,188.

The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) said it is unacceptable to be near the bottom of the funding league, despite our prosperity.

“This report confirms yet again the gross under-investment in second-level education in Ireland, which is putting our economic prosperity in jeopardy,” said ASTI acting general secretary John White.

Mr Dempsey said the figures, based on 2001 comparisons, show overall spending on education increased dramatically since 1995. Ireland is one of just seven countries to have spent at least 29% more on education in that period.

But the minister warned against complacency and acknowledged the need to invest more.

“In particular, we need to focus on increasing the resources we allocate to primary education, since this is the area where our spending compares least favourably with that of many other countries,” he said.

Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) general secretary John Carr welcomed the minister’s admission that primary education has to be prioritised.

“It’s fundamentally wrong to spend three times more on a university graduate than on a child in a disadvantaged primary school. Funding must be brought to the same rate as second level to ensure all children get a fair start,” he said.

The report showed that, at third level, E12,246 is spent for each student, compared to an OECD average of just over E15,000.

College leaders have been urging the Government to reverse recent spending cuts and are hoping an OECD review of Irish third-level education due out tomorrow will recommend funding increases.