Portugal spent a similar amount on education to the OECD average, but spending per student in Portugal is 14% lower, around ten thousand euros compared to the OECD average of 11,700 thousand euros.
That’s one of the findings of the Education at a Glance 2023 study, published Tuesday by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which shows that Portugal does not deviate from the OECD average when comparing investment alone. amounted to 39 countries in 2020, taking into account the percentage of gross domestic product (GDP).
Portugal spent 5.1% of its GDP on educational institutions ranging from basic to higher education, “a percentage similar to the average for OECD countries,” the report said.
But Portugal spends 14% less per student than the OECD average. At all levels, from primary to higher education, Portugal spent €10,063 per student annually, compared with the OECD average of €11,766, according to values adjusted by purchasing power parity (PPP) conversion factors.
However, the amount spent in Portugal represents a greater effort for the country, as spending per student is equivalent to 31% of GDP per capita, while the OECD average is 27%.
The study also shows how funding was distributed across different levels of education: 30% was allocated to cycles 1 and 2; 22% was allocated to cycle 3; 23% continued their secondary education, with the remainder funding post-compulsory education courses (e.g. degree, master’s or doctorate).
In Portugal, private funding has a greater weight in compulsory education, accounting for 12% of spending compared with 9% of the OECD average, the report also found.
“On average in OECD countries, more than half of public spending on primary and post-secondary non-tertiary education comes from subnational governments. In Portugal, 82% of funding comes from the central government, after transfers between government levels of 7% at the regional level and 11% at the local level,” according to Education Vision 2023.
The OECD study is published every year and provides an overview of the state of education around the world.