Teachers in Ireland are among the best paid in the world, despite the continued under funding of the education system here, according to a new OECD report.
The Education at a Glance report published this morning says average earnings for primary teachers are the second highest among 33 OECD counties. Second level teachers are third or fourth highest among those surveyed.
On average primary here earn over $60,000 per year, compared to an OECD average of $39,000.
The report finds that primary teachers in Ireland "are better paid in absolute terms than teachers in other countries... At secondary level. Irish teachers are also better paid than elsewhere.'
The report is based on data compiled in 2008 - before public service 6.5 per cent pay cut and the 7.5 per cent cut in pensions.
The OECD report has already drawn a furious response from the teacher unions.
The Teachers' Union of Ireland has criticised the "dated OECD report'' which it said was only of "archaeological" relevance. It described elements of report as being "beyond historic" in terms of its current relevance.
The INTO said that on average Irish teachers earn less than workers with similar education levels and years of experience in Ireland. Teachers in Ireland, it said, earn on average 88 per cent of the income of workers with similar education levels in Ireland.
While the report shows Irish teachers on average earning above OECD levels of salary they do less well than similarly qualified graduates in Ireland, according to the INTO.
At primary level, the report shows Irish teachers teaching 20 per cent longer than the EU21 average, the third highest of thirty one countries.
The report shows how average spending per student at all levels of education relative to wealth or GDP per capita is among the lowest of the OECD countries. Below average figures at primary and third level bring Irish spending well below the OECD average. At primary level Ireland ranks 25th of 32 countries.
Overall spending on education was 5.6 per cent of GDP in 2008 which is an increase on the 2007 figure of 4.7 per cent but still below the OECD average at 5.9 per cent in 2008.
However, despite relative under investment Ireland has more students completing second level than other countries. In the 1960s less than half (48 per cent) of students went on to finish second level. The OECD average was 61 per cent. But today 91 per cent finish second level compared to 82 per cent across the OECD. Ireland is now the third highest of any OECD country for school completion.
Ireland also recorded the second highest growth in students getting to college between 1999 and 2009. Third level completion in Ireland is 48 per cent, well above the OECD average of 37 per cent or EU21 at 34 per cent.
ASTI general secretary Pat King said the report again confirms that even at the height of the economic boom, Ireland's education service was under-resourced. "Today's report reaffirms that there really is no room for further cuts in education. Schools were already operating on a shoestring before the recent savage education cuts were implemented.''
