By any standard, Irish students have performed well in the annual OECD review, Education at a Glance, published yesterday. Irish 15-year-olds were ranked fifth of 27 OECD states in reading literacy. They were well above average in scientific literacy and in the middle group when it came to mathematical literacy.
The results confirm a trend in several recent OECD reports where Irish students have been performing well. It remains the case that there is a great deal that is wrong with Irish education. But, when compared with other public services in this State, it is fair to say that the education system does a good job for a good proportion of our population. Much of this is due to the dedication and commitment of a good teaching force. Many have helped their students achieve outstanding results despite, rather than because of, the support they received from the State. This country is fortunate that the teaching profession is continuing to draw some of the best and the brightest of our young people.
Every single person within Irish education continues to work within a system where there remains chronic under-investment when compared to most other developed states. The Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, acknowledged this last night pointing out that we are still behind most developed states when it comes to the proportion of GDP spent on education. In particular, he said, we needed to focus on primary and second level.
There is, as Mr Dempsey also recognised, a danger that the healthy findings from the OECD may induce a kind of complacency about the education system. As the jostling begins around the Cabinet table for a share of scarce resources, it can be expected that other ministers will see the OECD report as a reason why education does not need more.
Such a view would be mistaken and counter productive. As the background OECD paper on the Republic makes clear, investment in education has been the engine which has helped to drive the Irish economy in the past decade. A shortsighted penny-pinching approach - like the recent decision to freeze research funding at third level - serves little purpose. Yes, there are other spending priorities, but can we really afford continued underinvestment in education if we want to maintain a competitive edge?
It is to be hoped that the new review of education policy - set in train by Mr Dempsey - will help to identify key education priorities for the future. It is good that the Minister is set to appoint an independent group to formulate education policy. He is also determined apparently to move the education debate beyond the "usual suspects".
All of this is to be welcomed. Every section of society must be engaged in framing an education policy for the future. For now, the Republic can bask in the reflected glory of good marks from the OECD. But the challenge is to build on the progress already achieved.