With a focus on higher education this year, Education at a Glance 2019 highlights that, on average, 44% of 25-34 year-olds from OECD countries held a tertiary degree, an increase from 35% in 2008. However, among 18-24 year-olds, an average of 14.3% are not employed or in school or vocational training, with that percentage rising to 25% in Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Italy, South Africa and Turkey.
Tertiary degree holders also earn 57% more than those who have completed an upper secondary education. At the same time, women earn less than men at all levels of educational attainment, and the gap is wider among those with a tertiary level education. In 2016, the percentage of total government expenditures spent on education – from primary to tertiary – averaged 11% in OECD countries, from a low of 6.3% in Italy to 17% in Chile.
Headlines in a number of countries also emphasized the results related to higher education, but noted as well the significant gender gaps in pay between men and women, and concerns about education expenditures, class size, and teacher pay.
Australia
Australia should try to keep more international students who are trained in our universities, The Conversation
Australia’s education system takes almost one in ten of all international students from countries that are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)… They represent about 48% of those enrolled in masters and 32% in doctoral programs.
Brazil
(Translation) In Brazil, investment per student and teacher salary remain low, Gazeta Do Povo
…although Brazil invests in education more than other members of the organization, student spending is below the average of these other nations
China
Higher education needs to step up efforts to prepare students for future: OECD
In China, the recent share of tertiary attainment is 18 percent, much lower than the OECD average. Among Chinese people aged between 25 and 34, 67 percent are expected to enter tertiary education for the very first time, slightly more than the OECD average of 65 percent.
Denmark
(Translation) New OECD figures: The class quotient is rising fastest in Denmark, Folkeskolen.dk
The Danish class quotient in both the youngest and the oldest classes has now passed the EU average. In fact, Denmark is the country in the OECD, where the class quotient in the oldest classes has increased most since 2005.
Germany
(Translation) Comparison East beats West, Spiegel Online
The people in East Germany are more highly qualified than the citizens in the West….Over-55-year-olds are doing particularly well.
Ireland
High gender pay gap among degree holders – OECD, RTÉ
The figures show that women with third level [tertiary] qualifications earn 28% less than their male peers in Ireland. The study shows the number of women who attend third level is higher in Ireland than men – 51% of women compared to 43% of men.
Israel
OECD: Israel big spender on education, students receive less, The Jerusalem Post
Israeli expenditure on education as a share of GDP may now be among the highest in the developed world, but Israel still spends significantly less per student than most other countries, according to a report published on Tuesday by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Latvia
In Latvia, women with higher education earn 20% less than men, LA.LV
In Latvia, women with higher education earn on average 20% less than men with the same level of education, but women with secondary education earn 28% less than men with upper secondary education.
Norway
(Translation) Norwegian students and universities cost more, Forskning.no
A new report shows that spending per student at Norwegian universities and colleges has increased more from 2010 to 2016 than in most other countries. Expenditure growth was 20 per cent per student. This is 12 per cent more than the average in other Western countries (OECD countries).
Poland
(Translation) Report: Polish teacher earns little, but also spends little time at the blackboard, Prawo.pl
According to the Education at Glance 2019 report, a Polish teacher earns $ 26,428 annually after 15 years of work. Teachers in Luxembourg earn the most in Europe – $ 108,624, Germany – $ 74,486 and the Netherlands – $ 63,413. The Finnish educator earns $ 42,206 and the teacher in France 37,700.
Slovenia
Slovenia still below OECD average in spending on education, Total Slovenia News
Slovenia earmarked in 2016 the same share of its gross domestic product (GDP) for education as in the year before, 4.3%, which is below the OECD average.
Spain
Bad education? Why more class time has not improved academic results in Spain, El País
Spanish high school students perform worse on PISA tests than Finnish pupils, even though they spend 246 more hours in the classroom
Switzerland
Switzerland- Vocational training or degree? Employment rates are similar, MENAFN
Overall Swiss adults had a higher employment rate than the OECD average: among those with obligatory school education it was 69% compared with the 59% OECD average. For those with post-obligatory school vocational training the employment rate was 82% (OECD average 76%) compared with 89% (OECD: 85%) for those with tertiary education.
UK
Britain has biggest primary school classes in the developed world, report finds, The Telegraph
State primary schools in the UK now have an average of 28 pupils, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) latest Education at a Glance study. This is the first year that Britain has been ranked as having the highest number of pupils per class – joint with Chile – out of all the OECD countries.
International Education News 