The Minister for Education, Nick McKim, today said Mr Ferguson
is being misleading and there have been no further savings demanded of education
in the 2012-13 budget.

 

Mr McKim said support services for children with high needs had
been quarantined from the need to find savings and were in fact
increased.

 

"We recognise the challenges and difficulties Tasmanians face
when they or their family members live with a disability," he
said.

 

"Education is important for every Tasmanian child and that is
why we increased the special needs funding by $4.3 million to $68.1 million for
the 2012 school year.

 

"To suggest that this situation is caused by budget cuts is
blatantly false fear-mongering by the Liberal
Party."

 

Department of Education Deputy Secretary Liz Banks said the
article in today's Mercury did not reflect the school's
position.

 

"There has been no correspondence or official notification
provided to the family in question regarding what support will be available next
year," Ms Banks said.

 

"Support provided is based on an assessment of a child's needs,
which takes place in September of each year, and it is at this point that
discussions begin with families to plan for the following
year."