Investing in education is the top priority says Cork school principal

A CORK principal has claimed that investing in education is more important than investing in any other piece of infrastructure in Ireland and said investment in that sector will attract foreign inward investment to the country.

Principal of Kinsale Community School Fergal McCarthy was speaking to The Echo following the publication of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report, Education at a Glance 2023, which ranks Ireland in last place out of 36 countries for investment in education as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP).

In 2020, the year analysed, Ireland invested 1% of GDP in second-level education compared to the OECD average of 2% and EU average of 1.9%.

Expenditure per second-level student was $11,379 compared to an OECD average of $11,942 and EU average of $11,696.

In 2020, total expenditure on primary to tertiary education in Ireland was 3.2% of GDP, much lower than the OECD average of 5.1% and EU average of 4.5%.

Mr McCarthy said that investment in the sector is key.

“Investing in education is more important than investing in any other piece of infrastructure in Ireland. It is an investment in our human capital. It’s an investment that will attract foreign inward investment to our country because our graduates are seen as being very, very well qualified with the appropriate skillset to meet the 21st century needs of dynamic employers.”

President of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) Geraldine O’Brien said that a “significant increase” in investment in schools is required in the upcoming Budget.

“Increased spending during the pandemic period helped to ensure schools could remain open insofar as possible, but these additional supports were temporary.

“What is needed is a commitment to close the investment gap between Ireland and the rest of the world.”

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) general secretary John Boyle insisted that the Government must commit to funding at least up to the OECD average in Budget 2024.

“The findings of the OECD report, make abundantly clear that a massive increase in school funding will have to be delivered in Budget 2024 next month.

“The Government must commit to funding at least up to the OECD average to ensure that primary schools have sustainable funding in place. Our children deserve no less,” Mr Boyle said.