Israel's spending on education in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) ranged from $3,428 per kindergarten pupil to $5,617 per high school pupil in 2001, the Central Bureau of Statistics reported yesterday. This was 24% less than the OECD average for kindergarten pupils, and 16% less than the OECD average for high school pupils. The figures are based on an international comparison.
Average spending in OECD member states in 2001 was $4,490 per kindergarten pupil ; $4,819 per primary school pupil; and $6,668 per high school pupil.
Israel spend an average of $11,494 per student in university, college and other institutes of higher education in 2001, 6.7% less than the OECD average.
Sweden spent the most on education per university and college student - $15,188. Israel lagged behind Denmark ($14,280), Australia ($12,688), and Belgium ($11,589); but was ahead of Austria ($11,274), Japan ($11,164), Finland ($10,981), the UK ($10,753), and Germany ($10,504).
However, a comparison of spending on education as a proportion of GDP found that Israel spent more than OECD states. Israel's national expenditure on education amounted to 8.6% of GDP in 2001, compared with the OECD average of 6.2%. South Korea (8.2%), the US (7.3%) and Denmark (7.1%) had rates similar to Israel's. However, Israel's national spending on education is misleadingly high because Israel has a higher proportion of young people than other OECD states.
A comparison of spending on education by level found that Israel's spending on primary, junior high and high school was especially high, at 4.9% of GDP, compared with the OECD average of 3.8%. Israel spending on higher education was 2% of GDP, compared with the GDP average of 1.8%.
Israel's government spending on education, including by local authorities but excluding student scholarships, amounted to 7.1% of GDP in 2001, higher than the OECD average of 4.8%. Among OECD countries, only Denmark spent an almost comparable proportion on education - 6.8% of GDP.
Nonetheless, the comparison of spending per pupil in terms of PPP found that Israel spent less per pupil than the OECD average at every level of education.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on September 20, 2004