Government pleased by OECD education comparison
The Schools Minister David Miliband has welcomed the publication of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) report on international education.
Published on Tuesday, the annual report compares levels of educational participation, attainment and spending among member states.
However, there is a significant time lag in the data used for the report, with today’s report based on data compiled in 2002 and earlier.
The report is broadly positive for the UK, with its performance in literacy, mathematics and science being assessed as above average, but the OECD notes ongoing concerns about the number of 17-year-olds leaving full time education.
After the end of compulsory education, UK participation rates in education fall below the majority of the OECD, with only Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, the Slovak Republic and the United States lower.
However, participation rates in the 20-29 and 30-39 age groups improve to become among the best in the OECD.
Spending per pupil at both primary and secondary level is slightly below the OECD average, but the report notes that there has been an increase in expenditure in real terms over the past few years.
Though the UK is assessed as having a low drop-out rate for those who reach higher education, and a higher than average number of new graduates with 36 per cent of a typical age cohort achieving a first or masters degree, as compared to an OECD average of 32 per cent. However, it no longer tops graduation rates as it did in 2000.
It finds that obtaining higher education provides a significant financial benefit to the individual as well as society, but that the rates of return diminish markedly for those who enter tertiary education later in life.
Commenting on the report, Mr Miliband said: “The UK holds a strong position in a number of areas, and one that we improve further as our latest educational performance features in the comparisons.
“We must continue to push forward with our drive to improve teaching and learning in schools. Through successful programmes such as Excellence in Cities, we must also continue to make sure that deprivation is not a barrier to achievement.
“Significant challenges remain: we do lag behind other countries when it comes to participation post 16 – as we have done for many years. However, I am confident that the wide range of measures that we are putting place will have a dramatic effect. The EMA; an expanding number of vocational courses; an increase in the availability of apprenticeships; and better provision of support and information all help to get young people to see further education as an attractive option when they finish compulsory schooling.
“The report demonstrates that we are making good progress and have much to be proud of. Where issues remain, the Government has the strategies to address them. We have introduced long term certainty to education finance, and set out a five-year-plan to bring about further improvement. At a time when OfSTED says the standard of teaching has never been higher, we are improving as a country at getting the best out of our young people. I am confident that we will see continued improvement in the future.”
