The OECD has published its annual education at a glance report, which compares various education statistics between its 35 member countries.
Here are the main points relating to the UK…
1. The UK spends the most on education
Among OECD countries, the UK spends the highest proportion of its wealth on education. Its share of total public spending is above the average for OECD countries. An above-average share of funding comes from private sources.
2. Teacher salaries are down
In contrast to a general trend across OECD countries, teacher salaries in England and Scotland fell in real terms between 2005 and 2015. Teachers’ salaries are also lower on average than those of other workers educated beyond school-level.
3. Over half of childcare spending is private
Early childhood education is universal at the age of 3 in the UK. Less than half of the expenditure on early childhood education comes from public sources (47 per cent), the second lowest share among OECD countries.
4. Vocational education less popular
Compared to most OECD countries, vocational programmes are less popular among young upper secondary students in the United Kingdom, while expenditure per student is lower than for general programmes.
5. Number 2 for international students
The UK is the second most popular destination for internationally mobile students at higher and further education level, with international students accounting for a large share of enrolments, especially at master’s level and higher. However, students from the UK are among the least likely to study abroad.
6. STEM entry high, engineering low
At further and higher education level, the proportion of students entering the field of natural sciences, mathematics and statistics is the highest among OECD countries, but it is joint lowest for engineering, manufacturing and construction.
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