Author
Karen Rhede Manulat*
University of Visayas, Cebu City, Philippines
Dr. Regina P. Galigao
Cebu Technological University, M. J. Cuenco Avenue Cor R. Palma St., Cebu City, Philippines
Abstract
In this research, an analysis of the comparative trends of teacher-student ratios on a global scale was carried out in order to analyze the implications of these ratios on education regarding Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4). This research used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach to select, screen, and analyze relevant literature sources covering research papers and international organizations’ reports within the 2010-2025 period. According to the obtained data, the global differences in teacher-student ratios are obvious; thus, developing countries demonstrate higher ratios due to lack of teachers, resources, and high population numbers, whereas developed countries feature relatively low ratios. While it was noted that lower teacher-student ratios contributed positively to classroom interactions and allowed more opportunities for individual approaches, it should be stated that this criterion was not enough to ensure learning effectiveness due to the presence of other factors influencing learning, including teachers’ qualifications and available resources. In addition, the research shows that the uneven distribution of teachers leads to educational disparity in different regions and constitutes a persistent obstacle for reaching SDG 4, especially SDG 4.c related to increasing the supply of teachers. Recommendations were made at both national and international levels concerning teacher recruitment, distribution policies, teacher retention, and comprehensive education reform. The problem of the teacher-student ratio in comparative education is an important factor; however, it should be considered in connection with other aspects.
Keywords: Teacher–student ratio, pupil–teacher ratio, educational equity, teacher shortage, SDG 4, global education policy.
*Corresponding author / Email Address: kareversity@gmail.com
DOI: http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS05021169
Recommended citation:
Manulat, K. R., & Galigao, R. P. (2026). A systematic comparative review of teacher–student ratios across continents. Pantao (International Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences) 5 (2), 4549-4557. http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS05021169
Read the full text
References
National Center for Education Statistics. (n.d.). Education indicators: Student/teacher ratio. https://nces.ed.gov/pubs/eiip/eiipid39.asp
Njoroge, E., Mulwa, D. M., & Kiweu, J. M. (2023). Student–teacher ratio and teaching experience as determinants of students’ academic achievement. https://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jrme/papers/Vol-13%20Issue-1/Ser-2/H1301025662.pdf
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2024). Class size and student-teacher ratios. https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/class-size-and-student-teacher-ratios.html
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2025). Education at a glance 2025. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/education-at-a-glance-2025_1c0d9c79-en
Sparx Services. (2024). Teacher-student ratio statistics. https://www.sparxservices.org/blog/teacher-student-ratio-statistics
Teacher Task Force. (2024). Global report on teachers: Addressing teacher shortages. https://www.varkeyfoundation.org/post/unesco-teacher-task-force-global-report-on-teachers
UNESCO Institute for Statistics. (2025). Teacher data: Challenges and solutions forward. https://www.uis.unesco.org/sites/default/files/medias/fichiers/2025/08/EDS-5-Teacher-Data-Final-Web-1.pdf
UNESCO Institute for Statistics. (2024). World education statistics 2024. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/world-education-statistics-2024
UNESCO Data. (n.d.). Pupil-teacher ratio database. https://data.un.org/Data.aspx?d=UNESCO&f=series%3aPTRHC_23
United Nations. (2026). SDG indicators metadata (Goal 4, Target 4.c). https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/?Goal=4&Target=4.c
World Bank. (n.d.). Pupil-teacher ratio definition.