EU nations face challenges in education spending and teacher shortages

An analysis of 2023 Eurostat data reveals significant disparities in public education spending across EU member states. While higher funding does not always guarantee better educational outcomes due to factors like organizational structure and social inequality, the amount of money allocated directly impacts teacher availability and school facilities.

In Lithuania, education spending stands at 4.34% of GDP. The country faces a critical shortage of educators, with over 41% of teachers aged 55 or older, the highest proportion in the EU. While Lithuanian students perform above the OECD average in natural sciences, recent PISA testing showed a decline in reading literacy.

Latvia also reports spending of 4.34% of GDP and is struggling with an aging teaching workforce, as approximately half of its teachers are over the age of 50. The Latvian government is responding to population decline and urban-rural educational gaps by merging smaller schools to optimize resources.