Stepping out of the Ivory Tower

“What better setting for a conference than the city of Seville, the regional capital of Andalusia. A melting pot of cultures, an ancient learning center, Seville has huge potential to be a world class city in the creative economy. The scientific and technological activity hub is fed by Seville’s three universities, whose laboratories and research centers work in close connection with private and public actors in various fields of research …” (more)

[Julie Harris, OECD: Education Today, 21 February]

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How Much Do Educational Outcomes Matter in OECD Countries?

“Existing growth research provides little explanation for the very large differences in long-run growth performance across OECD countries. We show that cognitive skills can account for growth differences within the OECD, whereas a range of economic institutions and quantitative measures of tertiary education cannot …” (more)

[Kevin Denny, Geary Behavioural Economics Blog, 8 February]

Dept of Education: OECD drop ‘matter of serious concern’

“The Secretary General of the Department of Education has called Ireland’s recent slide in the OECD rankings a ‘matter of serious concern’, but also questioned the study’s findings …” (more)

[Cork Student News, 14 January]

‘Concern’ at lower maths and literacy rankings

“The secretary general of the Department of Education Brigid McManus said Ireland’s drop in OECD maths and literacy rankings was a ‘matter of serious concern’ but questioned the findings of the international study, an Oireachtas committee heard …” (more)

[Genevieve Carbery, Irish Times, 14 January]

The Hunt Report, and how to close the deficit

“There are many shortcomings in the Hunt Report ‘National Strategy for Higher Education’ – but one thing that’s very useful …” (more)

[Michael Burke, progressive-economy@TASC, 11 January]

Grade inflation issue lingers after disturbing OECD report

“The controversial issue of so called ‘grade inflation’ in the education system which erupted early this year has resurfaced following disturbing findings in an OECD report last week …” (more)

[Martha Kearns, Sunday Business Post, 12 December]

Decline in maths and literacy

“Madam, – The latest OECD results will not be a surprise to people teaching maths to science and engineering students in colleges and universities here …” (more)

[Sara McMurry, Irish Times, 13 December]

Don’t blame immigrants for decline in education standards

“Irish society needs all the youthful intelligence and imagination it can get. So it is not surprising that new figures showing Ireland’s decline in international rankings from fifth to 17th in reading and from 16th to 26th in maths have raised serious concerns …” (more)

[Seán Ó Riain, Irish Times, 13 December]

Higher Education conference attacks rankings

“With the international university rankings season underway, higher education policy-makers and leaders have criticised league tables for distorting university priorities during a major global recession. Delegates speaking at a three-day OECD conference in Paris said rankings did not help …” (more)

[Yojana Sharma, University World News, 14 September]

OECD and education

“… Rather than do Ireland down as some commentators have sought to do, the report is altogether more positive on Ireland’s achievements and international standing. Ireland has seen a dramatic increase in tertiary attainment levels over the past 30 years. By 2008 almost 50% of 25-34-year-olds had obtained a higher education qualification, as compared to just 20% of those in the 55-64 age group …” (more)

[Micheál Martin, Irish Times, 14 September]

Govt must avoid cuts in education spend – US tech giants

“Ireland’s Government must resist any temptation to make cuts in education spending if it wants to develop the smart economy, the American Chamber of Commerce has warned. It says Ireland is producing a higher standard of graduates and this must be sustained …” (more)

[John Kennedy, Silicon Republic, 8 September]

Education spending levels ‘unacceptable’

“The Union of Students in Ireland has criticised the Government after a new OECD survey found that Ireland continues to rank close to bottom in terms of spending on education …” (more)

[Pamela Newenham, Irish Times, 8 September]

OECD Report: Education at a glance – or in a fog?

“The Irish Times today covered the publication of the latest OECD Education at a Glance and some of the domestic response to it. Like most OECD publications, this series provides lots of useful statistics and information generally to a fairly high standard …” (more)

[Kevin Denny, Geary Behavioural Economics Blog, 7 September]

We are bottom of the class

“The Government failed to invest sufficiently in education during the boom years and is now paying the price. A report shows that we are near the bottom of an international league table for spending on education, and near the top for large classes …” (more)

[John Walshe, Independent, 8 September]

Governments need to go for world-class quality in their education systems says OECD

“Governments need to go for world-class quality in their education systems to ensure long-term economic growth, according to the 2010 edition of the OECD’s annual Education at a Glance. Total education spending in Ireland doubled in period 1995-2007 …” (more)

[Finfacts Ireland, 8 September]

Numbers just don’t add up …

“Spending on education has not kept pace with the rising numbers of pupils and teachers. Three years ago a total of €8.7bn was spent on education – rising to €9.35bn last year. The transfer of certain functions between the departments of Education and Enterprise make a direct comparison impossible this year …” (more)

[Independent, 8 September]

Ireland in ‘education relegation zone’

“Ireland’s failure to increase its spend on education, in line with the wealth generated by the Celtic Tiger, has raised strong criticism. We spent just more per student in 2007 than the average developed country at primary, and 13% above average at second level, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 8 September]

Irish education spending at height of boom was fourth lowest in OECD

“Education spending in Ireland was the fourth lowest among 31 OECD states during the peak years of the celtic tiger. The annual OECD Education at a Glance report, published yesterday, shows Ireland languishing close to the bottom of the international league table …” (more)

[Seán Flynn, Irish Times, 8 September]

Irish schools – high in spirit, but low on sport and sums

“Irish schools give low priority to maths, science and foreign languages, but top the league for religion, according to the latest survey of education in OECD countries …” (more)

[Kim Bielenberg, Independent, 8 September]

Report strengthens third-level fees case

“The case for reintroducing third-level fees is strengthened by the latest OECD report on global education funding but the economic think-tank has also warned against up-front charges for students …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 8 September]