A special OECD report issued today entitled "Education at a Glance" found that Israel's classrooms are among the world's most crowded. According to the report, there was an average of 27.6 children per class in elementary schools in Israel in 2007 compared with an overall average of 21.4 children per class in OECD countries.
In junior high schools, the situation was even worse with an average of 32.7 children per class in Israel, compared with an overall average of 23.9 children per class in OECD countries.
According to the report only Korea and Japan had more crowded classrooms than Israel.
In terms of investment in education infrastructure, the report found that Israel invested more than the OECD average, investing 4.4% of its budget compared with an overall average of 4% in OECD countries. However, Israel's investment per child in elementary school was only $4,923 compared with an overall average of $6,437 per child in OECD countries, and $5,858 per student in high schools in Israel compared with $8,006 per student in OECD countries.
Between 1996 and 2006 OECD countries increased their investment in education by 39% compared with a 9% increase in Israel over the same period.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 8, 2009
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