OECD results underline funding needs

By Angelo Gavrielatos

New Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) student assessment results underline the urgent need for greater investment in public education if Australia is to avoid being left behind.

While Australian students continue to perform at higher than the OECD average, the 2007 Programme for International School Assessment (PISA) results show they are now being overtaken. Eleven years of neglect by the former Howard Government have placed Australia's international education rankings at risk.

While still in the top 10 countries, Australia is now being outperformed in crucial areas like reading and mathematical literacy by more countries than in the past.

For the reason behind these results, there is no need to look any further than the latest OECD funding figures which show that public expenditure on education in Australia is third lowest among the OECD countries.

Public education needs greater investment from the Federal Government. The overall education outcomes for Australian students are dependent on significantly increased funding for public education.

Angelo Gavrielatos is Federation Deputy President and Acting AEU President.

For further information

December 2007 contents