Australia’s spending on public education continues to trail behind much of the developed world, new OECD figures reveal.
The OECD’s Education at a Glance 2025 report shows that just 1.7% of the nation’s GDP goes towards secondary schooling – well below the global average – while primary school and preschool funding also lags.
The Australian Education Union (AEU) says the findings are a wake-up call, urging governments to make full public school funding a national priority.
“This report makes clear how important it is that the full funding of Australia’s public schools remain a priority for governments,” AEU federal president Correna Haythorpe said in a statement.
“All governments, state and federal, have committed to full funding in bilateral agreements, which needs to be delivered on the ground to address the inequity the OECD has highlighted.”
The report also shows that more needs to be done to address the growing inequity between Australian public and private schools.
Haythorpe pointed out that while Australia’s public schools are carrying the greatest responsibility for educating students from disadvantaged backgrounds, they remain the least resourced.
“Every child deserves access to a high-quality education, no matter their background or postcode,” she said. “The OECD confirms that when we fail to invest properly in public education, it is students and their teachers who suffer the consequences.”
Australia’s teacher shortage also remains among the world’s worst, with the OECD reporting referencing PISA data that shows between 2018 and 2022 the proportion of Australian students in schools where principals reported that learning was hindered by teacher shortages jumped from 26% to 47%.
Australia’s above average class sizes and high compulsory instruction hours compound the pressures on teachers. Disappointingly, the report confirms growth in teacher salaries has lagged behind the OECD average.
“It is no surprise that teacher shortages are worsening when Australian teachers are working longer hours in larger classes with fewer resources than their colleagues overseas,” Haythorpe said.
“Governments must deliver on their commitments and invest in the teaching workforce through better pay, manageable workloads, and schools that are fully funded and properly resourced.”