Countries that invest more in their teachers have better education outcomes than those who do not, according to an OECD study published today.
The report compares spending on education with performance and concludes that beyond a certain threshold, how money is spent is more important than the amount.
The study pulled together data on primary and second-level education spending from member countries and compares that figure with the reading performance of 15-year-olds.
It found that among wealthier countries, such as Ireland, the strongest performers tend to be those who invest more in their teachers.
It instanced Korea and Hong Kong, two systems it says were high-performing, where teachers are very well paid.
It said the strongest countries educationally are those who attract the best students into teaching by offering them higher salaries and greater professional status.
That analysis is bound to be welcomed by teachers.
However, there is likely to be less support for a second conclusion in this report; that class size is unrelated to the school system's overall performance.
Classes in Ireland are currently among the largest in the European Union and OECD.
