Education at a Glance 2024 (EAG) is the definitive guide to the state of education around the world. This year's report reveals some notable highlights on the teaching profession.

These include, out of 21 countries with available data, 18 reported experiencing teacher shortages at the beginning of the 2022/23 academic year, with only Greece, Korea, and Türkiye as exceptions. The report also underscored a significant trend: the aging of the teaching workforce being more pronounced in secondary education compared to primary. On average, in OECD countries, the proportion of older teachers (aged 50 and over) increases with the education level, rising from 34% in primary education to 36% in lower secondary and reaching 41% in upper secondary education.

These findings and much more can be found in the 2024 EAG report which continues to highlight important trends and challenges in the education sector globally.

This Spotlight presents findings from Education at a Glance 2024 on equity in and through education, the theme of the 2024 report.  Outcomes include a positive trend of increased resources for primary and lower secondary education, including a reduction in student-to-teacher ratios at the pre-primary level, suggesting efforts to improve working conditions for educators.

The report also stresses the impact of socio-economic disparities on student outcomes. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds, especially in early childhood, are less likely to access quality education, which widens the gap in achievement. For many teachers, these findings highlight the importance of targeted support and early intervention to bridge the inequality divide. 

The 6th Creativity in Education Summit, ‘Empowering Creativity in Education via Practical Resources’, will address the critical role of creativity in shaping the future of education. Organised by the OECD Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) and the Global Institute of Creative Thinking (GIoCT) since 2022, the summit is dedicated to looking at the latest trends, approaches, and best practices in creative thinking and creativity development in schools.

Through a combination of keynote addresses and interactive sessions, the summit will explore ways in which these tools can be used to transform classrooms into vibrant centres of creativity. The event will also highlight the importance of accessibility and inclusivity, ensuring that creative resources can benefit all students, regardless of their socio-economic background or learning needs.

Register your attendance at the summit in Paris and join a community of passionate and like-minded individuals for an invaluable learning experience to anyone who is committed to enhancing the role of creativity in education.

Ce rapport analyse l'état de la participation à l’apprentissage et au développement professionnel continus des personnels de l’éducation nationale en France et de la mise en œuvre des écoles académiques de la formation continue (EAFC) (au moment de l’analyse).

Il élabore des recommandations sur la manière dont le Ministère de l'Éducation nationale et de la Jeunesse et les EAFC peuvent améliorer la pertinence, l'accessibilité et la qualité de leur offre de formation.

On average, science scores have been falling globally for over a decade, causing concern for teachers, students, parents and policy makers. But what can be done to improve the quality of science teaching and what are the risks of doing nothing?

In this episode of Top Class, Nobel Prize winning physicist Carl Wieman, Professor Emeritus of Physics and Education at Stanford University, speaks to OECD Senior Content Manager and Podcast host Duncan Crawford about how and why current science teaching techniques are so often ineffective. Professor Wieman argues that traditional lectures need to be ditched in favour of more active learning methods in order to reverse the current trend of falling science scores.

OECD Director Andreas Schleicher writes about the distinct advantages and hidden strengths of rural schools compared to urban ones. While urban schools often benefit from better resources, facilities and access to educational and career opportunities, Andreas highlights that rural schools often provide greater teacher support, which is a key factor in student development.

PISA data also reveals that rural students report stronger teacher relationships, fostering more personalised attention and community ties. Despite the resource challenges faced by rural schools, their smaller size and close-knit environments contribute to deeper connections between students and educators, something policy makers should consider when contemplating school consolidations.