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BackEducation is the best insurance against unemployment, in particular in weak labour markets. Education enables people to earn a significantly higher income. Public investments in higher education are profitable - in the long term, every Euro invested brings three times as much back into the state coffers. These results of the OECD Education Study, which was published in Brussels on 13.9.2011, argue for further reforms of the Austrian education system. Because compared to the international trend, Austria clearly lags behind with regard to 15 to 19-year olds in education and the number of university graduates.
Together with Jan Truszczyński, Director General of the European Commission for Education, Barbara Irschinger, Director for Education of the OECD, presented the study “Education at a Glance”. The study, which is published annually, compares the education systems of the OECD Member States. It contains key figures on input and output factors for all education levels. The Commission fully backs this OECD study, as it provides valuable data for a political analysis.
Austria drops further behind at international level
The OECD Education Study once again emphasises in particular two weak points: that compared to other countries, there are too few young people in Austria able to engage in further education and that the increase in the share of first-year students is lagging behind other developed industrial states. In contrast, more positive is the large participation in vocational education and training (VET) in Austria, which represents a significant factor with regard to the low youth unemployment in Austria.
Vocational education and training must not be a dead end
In times of crisis, vocational education and training makes the transition from school to the labour market easier, explains Irschinger (OEDC). However, it was important that the vocational education systems would allow participants to get to the top. What was needed were “open doors” to further education, emphasises Irschinger (OECD). This request is consistent with the demands of the Chamber of Labour: to increase the share of young people engaging in further education it should be made possible that all higher educational qualifications up to A Level standards can be gained at a later state free of charge.
Financing and efficiency of education systems
In contrast to the international trend, measured against the GDP the education expenditure in Austria fell from 6.2 % in 1995 to 5.4 % in 2008. Three quarters of the countries compared showed a completely opposite trend. It is therefore no surprise that Austria did not succeed in significantly increasing the share of first-year students. Also with regard to social student support systems, Austria finds herself in a little renowned group of countries. Namely in the one, which hardly promotes social advancement: this group had comparably low university fees, but at the same time “no particularly developed student support system”, said Irschinger (OECD). In order to boost the share of first-year students faster than it is currently the case, the Chamber of Labour demands that universities are at last adequately funded, a significant increase in technical colleges and an improvement of the grant system. Also necessary are negotiations at EU level to reduce the financial burden caused by students from other EU countries.
The efficiency of the Austrian education system also requires improvements. For example, Austria has parallel education paths at lower secondary level, which prevent social permeability through early selection. What is needed is a comprehensive school for all 10 to 14-year olds to ensure that no one is disadvantaged on the basis of his or her family background.
“Investment in education is not only about money, it's also an investment in people and an investment in the future.” (OECD)
Further information:
Study “Education at a Glance 2011. OECD indicators“ as PDF (ca. 500 pages)
English abstract “Education at a Glance 2011. Highlights” as PDF (ca. 100 pages):
Austria drops further behind at international level
The OECD Education Study once again emphasises in particular two weak points: that compared to other countries, there are too few young people in Austria able to engage in further education and that the increase in the share of first-year students is lagging behind other developed industrial states. In contrast, more positive is the large participation in vocational education and training (VET) in Austria, which represents a significant factor with regard to the low youth unemployment in Austria.
Vocational education and training must not be a dead end
In times of crisis, vocational education and training makes the transition from school to the labour market easier, explains Irschinger (OEDC). However, it was important that the vocational education systems would allow participants to get to the top. What was needed were “open doors” to further education, emphasises Irschinger (OECD). This request is consistent with the demands of the Chamber of Labour: to increase the share of young people engaging in further education it should be made possible that all higher educational qualifications up to A Level standards can be gained at a later state free of charge.
Financing and efficiency of education systems
In contrast to the international trend, measured against the GDP the education expenditure in Austria fell from 6.2 % in 1995 to 5.4 % in 2008. Three quarters of the countries compared showed a completely opposite trend. It is therefore no surprise that Austria did not succeed in significantly increasing the share of first-year students. Also with regard to social student support systems, Austria finds herself in a little renowned group of countries. Namely in the one, which hardly promotes social advancement: this group had comparably low university fees, but at the same time “no particularly developed student support system”, said Irschinger (OECD). In order to boost the share of first-year students faster than it is currently the case, the Chamber of Labour demands that universities are at last adequately funded, a significant increase in technical colleges and an improvement of the grant system. Also necessary are negotiations at EU level to reduce the financial burden caused by students from other EU countries.
The efficiency of the Austrian education system also requires improvements. For example, Austria has parallel education paths at lower secondary level, which prevent social permeability through early selection. What is needed is a comprehensive school for all 10 to 14-year olds to ensure that no one is disadvantaged on the basis of his or her family background.
“Investment in education is not only about money, it's also an investment in people and an investment in the future.” (OECD)
Further information:
Study “Education at a Glance 2011. OECD indicators“ as PDF (ca. 500 pages)
English abstract “Education at a Glance 2011. Highlights” as PDF (ca. 100 pages):