OECD Education Report: Germany spends above-average amount of money on education - but wrongly
Overall funds are high in international comparison according to the OECD, but could be distributed more sensibly. German teachers also do not work efficiently enough.
Germany spends above the average amount per capita on education, but the report "Education at a Glance 2026" by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reveals that this money is not being used effectively. The country's public and private spending on educational institutions from primary to tertiary level - from elementary school to university or master's degree - totals $16,430 per education participant, compared to the OECD average of $14,861.
While Germany spends $13,163 per primary school student, which is below the OECD average of $13,639, the report suggests that funds could be better allocated for early childhood and early school education when long-term returns are likely to be greatest. OECD Director of Education Andreas Schleicher stated that he has little sympathy for Germany's resource expenditure, emphasizing the need for better distribution.
Recent Pisa studies from September showed that German 15-year-olds continue to lag behind in science, reading, and mathematics compared to their performance in the 2001 study that sparked the "Pisa shock".
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