New figures from the OECD show that Irish women gain more benefit from second-level education than women in any other industrialised country. Irishwomen earn nearly 30 per cent more over their working lifetime as a result of their second-level education. The comparative figure for Irish men is nearly 19 per cent.
The figures, published in the OECD's annual Education Policy Analysis report earlier this month, show that over a working lifetime Irish women reap a 28.8 per cent return on their personal investment, and the State's, in tuition, educational materials and earnings foregone while in second-level education.
This compares with a 24.4 per cent return in the Netherlands, 22.9 per cent in the USA, 19.1 per cent in the UK, 14.1 per cent in France, 9.9 per cent in Sweden and 5.5 per cent in Germany.
The OECD says "rates exceeding 10 per cent generally indicate a good return on investment."
Irish men benefit less, although still well, from their secondary education compared with other countries. American men get a 26.3 per cent return on their second-level schooling, compared with 22 per cent in the Czech Republic, 19 per cent in Switzerland, 18.6 per cent in Ireland, 14.3 per cent in the UK, 14.2 per cent in France, 10.9 per cent in Sweden and 5.7 per cent in Germany.
The OECD says second-level studies normally yield higher rates of return than university studies, due largely to their lower cost. However, in a few countries, such as Canada, Finland and Germany, the return is higher for university education.
Mr John Hurley, president of the secondary teachers' union, the ASTI, said the figures showed that "Ireland's dividend from education spending is the greatest in the OECD.
"They further emphasise the need to increase investment in our schools - at present expenditure per student is among the lowest in the OECD."
He called on the Government "to recognise that we cannot continue to spend so little on our students when the economy is so buoyant."