Ireland has been steadily declining in government spending on education as a percentage of GDP in recent years. In 2008, Ireland spent 4.9% of its GDP on education, but by 2020, that number had fallen to 3.1%. This decline is in stark contrast to the OECD average, which has remained relatively stable at around 4.9% over the same period.
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| Data from: Our World in Data |
There are a number of factors that have contributed to Ireland's declining education spending:
- The financial crisis of 2008 had a significant impact on the Irish economy, and government spending on all fronts was reduced as a result.
- In addition, Ireland has seen a significant increase in the number of students attending third level education in recent years, which has put a strain on resources.
The decline in government spending on education has had a number of negative consequences:
- First, it has led to larger class sizes and less access to resources for students.
- Second, it has made it more difficult for schools to attract and retain high-quality teachers.
- Third, it has contributed to a decline in the quality of education in Ireland.
Ireland's declining education spending is a matter of concern for many people. There is a growing consensus that Ireland needs to invest more in education in order to remain competitive in the global economy. The government has made some commitments to increasing education spending in recent years, but it remains to be seen whether these commitments will be enough to reverse the trend.
In terms of how Ireland compares with other wealthy countries in this regard, Ireland is one of the lowest spenders on education as a percentage of GDP. Only Chile, Mexico, and Turkey spend less on education as a percentage of GDP than Ireland. The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and most other European countries spend significantly more on education as a percentage of GDP than Ireland.
If Ireland wants to remain competitive in the global economy, it needs to invest more in education. The government needs to make a long-term commitment to increasing education spending and to ensuring that all students have access to a high-quality education.