Head over to our T
OECD Finds Education Spend Nearly Worst
Read more about: Education, Fine Gael, Government, Green Party 
From The Irish Times:
The Republic comes 29th out of 30 countries when it comes to investment in each second-level student in relation to the country’s wealth. Only the Slovak Republic invests less, according to the OECD figures.
Overall, the Republic’s total spending on education is only half that of countries such as the US and Switzerland with Ireland spending 4.4 per cent of its GDP on education, compared to an internationally recognised benchmark of about 6 per cent.
The new figures, based on spending trends up to 2003, have drawn an angry reaction from the teaching unions.
Minister for Education Mary Hanafin said they failed to reflect the dramatic increase in spending. Total education expenditure had increased from 4.9 per cent to 5.2 per cent of national income because of a 23 per cent rise in spending over the past two years, she said.
However, the 5.2 per cent figure still puts Ireland well behind other wealthy nations.
The ASTI has accused the Government of running an education system “on the cheap”.
Fine Gael jumps up and down with rage, while the only party who were putting out their education policy (The Greens) haven’t budged from step 9 in quite a while. Despite that it is Step 1 that addresses this issue.
It seems inconceivable that a strong economic situation can be maintained without long term strength in our education sector.
I think they have given up on the 50 steps the greens. I was following them and writing up about them every 4 but they have not done much. Can’t seem them getting 1 a week out before the election. Broken promises I tell you.
As for the GDP figure. I think it is shoddy stats. It is based on precentages of GDP and the like. Like relative proverty it tells very little. We could spend more per child then many countries but because or GDP is higher it seems less. I would like to see the figure vs Purchasing power parity. Alot more accurate. But as has been stated many times funding is lacking in the education service. But considering that we do well in terms of educational acheivement. I would say it says alot about the quality of teaching and circulem