The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) publishes on Tuesday its collection of statistics on the state of education in 49 member or partner countries.
What are the good and bad points of the education system in France? This is what the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows in its report entitled “Education at a Glance”, published Tuesday September 12. The OECD has scrutinized dozens of indicators, whether it be the amount of spending devoted to education or the organization of school time. In comparison with 48 member or partner countries of the organization, France presents a mixed record. Franceinfo looks back on four conclusions from this study.
1 France spends more than average on its students, but neglects elementary education
In terms of spending, France invested, in 2020 (the latest year for which data is available), more per pupil or student than the average for OECD countries. This cost is equivalent to 28% of GDP per capita, compared to 27% for the OECD average. From elementary to higher education, France spent 13,545 dollars (or 11,881 euros, with the 2020 exchange rate) per capita, compared to 12,647 dollars (or 11,093 euros) for all the countries of the organization.
“However, France still presents a clear gap in the distribution of education expenditure per student between elementary and secondary (to the advantage of secondary)”, points out the report. Furthermore, these expenditures are 9% lower than the OECD average in elementary education.
2 School “dropouts” find themselves in great precariousness later
Within OECD countries, a higher level of education tends to increase the probability of accessing a job after the period of study. Conversely, “those who drop out of school find themselves in very precarious circumstances later”, notes the report. In France, the employment rate is 52% for people without an upper secondary diploma (equivalent to high school in France), 78% for those with an upper secondary diploma and 88% for graduates of higher education.
3 The number of hours of teaching French and maths in elementary schools remains significant
In elementary education, France devotes 59% of school time to reading comprehension (reading, written expression and literature) and mathematics, “the highest proportion of all OECD countries”, underlines the results. More precisely, 38% of time is devoted to reading, writing and literature, and 21% to mathematics (compared to 25% and 16% respectively for the average of the countries studied).
Paradoxically, other studies on academic level reveal a delay in math among French students. While it spends time with its students on this subject, France is ranked last in the EU for maths in the CM1 ranking, according to the latest international Timss survey, published in 2020. It is also ahead -last for fourth grade classes. Another OECD study, called Pisa (Program for International Student Assessment), is less severe with regard to the overall level of the French. In 2019, she judged that the performance of 15-year-old students, in maths and in reading comprehension, was within the world average.
4French teachers are paid less than average, especially in mid-career
“SAccording to the figures for the 2021/2022 school year, the statutory salary of elementary and secondary teachers after ten or fifteen years of seniority is at least 15% lower than the average for OECD countries.evaluates the report, while “the difference with the OECD average is less than 6% at the very start of a career in elementary school [et que] salaries are at the same level as the OECD average for lower secondary education”. This inventory, however, does not take into account the salary increases for the 2023 school year. From now on, full professors (not interns) receive at least 2,000 euros net.
>> INFOGRAPHICS. Seniority, base salary, bonus… Consult the increase in teacher remuneration for the start of the 2023 school year
However, a catch-up takes place in the second half of their career, so that the salary progression of teachers in France from the start of their career to the top of the salary scale is at the level of the average for OECD countries. . But it takes more years in France to reach the maximum salary: 35 years of experience compared to 25 years on average in other countries.