6 December 2016

Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Education and Training

1000 days, 1000 reasons: brighter future for education

The Hodgman Liberal Government believes Tasmanians deserve better today and for generations to come, which is why we are investing in the future of the state.

The end of the week (Friday, 9th December) marks 1,000 days since the election of the majority Hodgman Liberal Government.

Today I am releasing more than 100 ways Tasmania’s education system has improved under this Government, and we are improving the system by undertaking the most significant transformation of our education system in half a century. 

By getting the budget back on track we have been able to commit a record $6 billion over the forward estimates of the budget into education and training to fund our improvements and “the full Gonski”. 

We’ve extended 12 high schools to year 12, with 18 more extending next year, and already we’ve seen results, with a 57 per cent increase in enrolments at participating schools since 2014, and an improvement in our apparent retention rates now up to 74 per cent, up from a low 67 per cent under the previous Government. 

Replacing a 20-year-old Act that no longer reflects contemporary practices and research, the Education Bill 2016 is our once in a generation opportunity to increase universal access to education and break the cycle of disadvantage in this state.

Since coming to Government we have prioritised investment into our high schools, conducting extensive capital works upgrades – the most extensive in 20 years.

The changes in the Education Bill 2016 mean more teachers in our schools, more teacher assistants and support staff, school nurses and specialists, infrastructure upgrades where required, and most importantly, more quality play-based early education for all Tasmanian children.

There is no doubt that Tasmania has changed for the better since the election, but there is more work to be done.

The Government will continue to implement our long term Plan for education to ensure every Tasmanian student can look forward to a brighter future.

1. More students staying to Year 12 - the apparent retention rate in years 10 to 12 has increased from 70.1 per cent in 2014 to 73.8 per cent in 2015.
2. More students enrolling in extension schools - 57 per cent increase in enrolments in first 12 schools extended to year 12.
3. More students attaining Tasmanian Certificate of Education - in 2015, there were 50.4 per cent students attaining a TCE in year 12 – up from 48.8 per cent in 2014, and 47.8 per cent in 2013.
4. Better NAPLAN results - 2016 results show Tasmania is moving closer to the national average in 15 of 20 assessments.
5. Science and Maths improvement - year 8 student results in maths/science improving compared to 2011 results, now comparable to WA, SA and NSW.

1. Record funding for education - $1.48 billion into education and training over next four years.
2. Funding full six years of Gonski - as pledged, Government committed full $134 million over six years.
3. Biggest investment in school infrastructure in 20 years - $110 million to upgrade government school over four years.
4. More teachers - increase of 113.17 full-time teachers in 2015-16 to 4372.35, compared to 4259.18 in 2014-15. 
5. Ensuring the best and brightest minds are inspiring students - $4.2 million to develop the teaching workforce including graduate teacher places in government schools and maths/science specialists.
6. More literacy and numeracy specialists - extra 25 specialists employed throughout Tasmania.
7. More high schools extended to year 12 - 30 high schools will be extended to year 12 by 2017. 
8. Funding to extend to year 12 - $45.5 million extension program including innovative partnerships between colleges and high schools to give students choice.
9. New $17 million program to help families learn together - Learning in Families Together (LIFT) supporting 80 schools with highest needs.
10. Historic reforms to education - the Education Bill is most significant transformation in education in half a century, and brings Tasmania into line with rest of the country.
11. Giving all children equal opportunity - education reforms will ensure every Tasmanian child has opportunity to access two years of quality, play-based early learning before starting school in year 1.
12. Additional $100 million for schools, teachers and support staff - funding in the five years from 2018 to deliver on key education reforms including extra early childhood education.
13. Extra week of employment per year for each Teacher Assistant - $4.4 million in extra funding.
14. Targeting Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) in our schools - $11 million for resourcing.
15. Reintroduction of school nurses - $5.8 million for the School Health Nurse Program.  20 FTE now employed, with a further five in 2017, working across 81 schools (program axed by previous government).
16. Helping keep young people at school - $15 million partnership with Beacon Foundation and Paul Ramsay Foundation to improve outcomes and retention to year 12.
17. New cutting edge equipment in TasTAFE - $3 million to train a job-ready generation.
18. Helping most disadvantaged children - $1.6 million partnership with Smith Family in rural-regional areas of Burnie, Wynyard and Launceston to work with families to improve school engagement.
19. Raising education standards - established the Peter Underwood Centre for Educational Attainment, to research causes, implications and solutions for improving education in State.
20. More help for children with disability - $12 million extra over four years to help ensure every Tasmanian student with disability can thrive, as a result of independent Ministerial Taskforce review into education for students with disability.  All recommendations being implemented.
21. Teacher/support staff training to support disability - incentivised Family Partnership Training to assist school communities work together to create disability-ready and responsive schools.
22. Improving career education from K-12 - My Education helping students identify their subject choices and future options throughout their education journey.
23. Growing international education - $300,000 for strategy to use brand to build sector which contributes $164 million to Tasman’s economy
24. Improving adult literacy - new ten year plan for the 26TEN program including an additional $85,000 per annum.
25. Supporting employers to improve adult literacy - $600,000 provided to 13 employers across the State in 2016 to improve the literacy of their workforce.
26. Respectful relationships education program for all Tasmanian Government schools - from K-12 on track for roll out in 2017.
27. Early childhood teachers - investing in Teacher Development – Early Childhood Specialist Initiative supports teachers with free Uni course to develop their skills and teaching practices.
28. Supporting vulnerable children and resilience in families - funding of $5.2 million as part of $20.6 million Redesign of Child Protection for earlier support at school or Child and Family Centres.
29. Better health in low socio-economic communities - $2 million Student Health Initiative to set foundations of lifelong good health, helping students to make healthy lifestyle choices.
30. Removed threat of forced school closures - clear policy decision to provide certainty to schools.
31. Cyber bullying - $3 million partnership with Alannah and Madeline Foundation.
32. Sexual assault awareness program for students - through Bravehearts.
33. Children impacted by family violence - six new staff, including social workers and psychologists, in place at child and family centres at Bridgewater, East Devonport and Ravenswood.
34. Education pathway to careers in primary industries - two new agricultural courses in schools, to be piloted in years 11 and 12
35. Hagley Farm School Centre for Agricultural Education - $500,000 to develop a centre of excellence and teaching resources.
36. Investing in play in the early years - $3 million for new play-based early learning facilities in Tasmanian schools.
37. Dual enrolment for children with disability - a first, offering students formalised access to both mainstream and support schools to address individual learning needs.
38. Tackling unexplained school absences - conciliation conferencing and practical support for schools and parents to address continued non-attendance.
39. Strengthening Home schooling - recognising home education in legislation, including allowing home-educated children the ability to partially enrol at school.
40. Primary schools to primary industries - a new Agricultural Education Framework in the school curriculum promoting learning and career pathways in agriculture.
41. Aboriginal history and education - $520,000 over two years to work with the Aboriginal community on the history and culture component of the Australian curriculum taught in our schools.

1. Autism support program, Lindisfarne North - $4 million Autism Class Support Program, tailor-made learning spaces and specialised staff.  Program extended to north and north-west in 2017.
2. Autism support program extended to Rose Bay High - from 2017.
3. New Town High School upgrade - $3.23 million refurbishment completed.
4. Upgrade of Windermere Primary School - a $5.5 million to construct more learning areas.
5. New classrooms at Austins Ferry Primary - $5.5 million upgrade to help meet growth.
6. Lenah Valley Primary School upgraded - $3 million will create new high quality learning areas and refurbish existing ones.
7. Hobart College upgraded - $2.5 million.
8. Glenorchy Primary School upgraded - $3.5 million will provide new general learning and administration areas.
9. South Hobart Primary School upgraded - $3.1 million refurbishment will provide an upgrade to the library and general learning areas.
10. Montrose Bay High School upgrades - $5 million project will provide for the redevelopment of the gymnasium and a number of general learning areas.
11. Montagu Bay Primary School upgraded - $1.8 million upgrade will provide 21st Century learning spaces.
12. Snug Primary - $2.5 million upgrade to help meet growth.
13. Tasman District School - $4 million upgrade will create new high quality learning areas and refurbish existing ones.
14. St Mary’s District School - $5 million is to undertake a major redevelopment of the school including contemporary general learning areas, music and performing arts facilities.
15. Lauderdale Primary School - $1.5 million has provided additional learning spaces, including dedicated early learning environments for Kindergarten.
16. Taroona High School - $2.1 million has provided new general learning areas including new science and home economics facilities.
17. Derwent Valley school - tele-conferencing - $100,000 to invest in modern teleconferencing facilities to link together schools in the Derwent Valley and make learning more accessible.
18. Waimea Heights - $760,000 has provided redeveloped 21st Century learning spaces
19. Rokeby High school - $1.5 million has provided students with new contemporary science facilities.
20. Springfield Gardens - $600,000 has provided new general learning spaces.
21. Margate Primary School - $635,000 was provided to upgrade early learning areas.
22. Oatlands district - $500,000 upgrade to general learning areas provides more inclusive and engaging spaces for all students.
23. Woodbridge District High - $2 million upgrade.
24. Southern Support School - $750,000 to upgrade general learning areas.
25. New Norfolk Primary School - $640,000 investment to build a new Early Years building to accommodate Kindergarten, and Launching into Learning Programs.
26. New Norfolk High School - $1.4 million to develop 21^st Century learning spaces.
27. Sorell School - $3.8 million to upgrade general learning areas.
28. Tasmanian Archives and Heritage Office - $3 million to improve archives and heritage storage.

1. East Launceston Primary School upgraded - $4.5 million for new general learning spaces.
2. Riverside High School upgraded - $12 million major investment to provide modern contemporary flexible learning environments for students.
3. Riverside Primary School - $2.5 million capital investment to address capacity issues being experienced due to growing student numbers.
4. Queechy High School upgraded - $3 million will provide contemporary learning areas.
5. Kings Meadows High School upgrades - $5 million project will provide for the refurbishment of existing learning areas.
6. Prospect High School upgrades - $8.5 million will provide for modern contemporary flexible learning environments and hospitality facilities.
7. Hagley Farm School - $100,000 to construct a new state of the art Centre of Excellence for agricultural studies.
8. Trevallyn Primary School - $850,000 will upgrade general learning areas.
9. Brooks High School - $7.3 million has provided the school with contemporary learning areas and has resolved disability access issues throughout the school.
10. Northern Support School - $7.9 million will refurbish the Ravenswood site providing contemporary learning environments for students.
11. Cressy District High School - $1.1 million has upgraded general learning areas.
12. Deloraine Primary School - $850,000 to upgrade general learning areas.
13. Sheffield School - $500,000 upgrade to science facilities.
14. Big Picture School in Launceston - first stand-alone 9-12 Big Picture School with dedicated Principal as a five-year pilot to be assessed by Underwood Centre for Educational Attainment.
15. Scottsdale Trade Training Centre - $511,000 for construction of a new commercial teaching kitchen at the Scottsdale High School site.

1. Somerset Primary School upgraded - $1.8 million will upgrade general learning areas.
2. East Devonport Primary School upgraded - $1.8 million will provide contemporary learning areas.
3. Latrobe High School upgraded - $10 million project will provide modern and flexible learning environments including new visual and performing arts facilities as well as hospitality facilities and gym facilities.
4. Burnie LINC upgraded - $1 million upgrade has modernised the library and information network facilities.
5. Parklands High School upgraded - $10.6 million major reconstruction has provided students and teachers access to modern learning spaces.
6. Smithton High School upgraded - $7 million upgrade will refurbish existing areas to provide flexible modern science facilities and visual and performing arts facilities.
7. North-West Support school relocation - $4.5 million will allow for students to move to a new larger site providing students with modern learning environments.
8. Wynyard High School trade training rooms - $180,000 for the upgrade and refurbishment of the trades and manual arts rooms to provide modern facilities.
9. Devonport High School - $850,000 has provided an upgrade to the gymnasium.
10. Ulverstone Primary - $525,000 has upgraded the administration area and provided the school with an interactive library space.
11. Cooee Primary School - $500,000 redevelopment at Cooee Primary School offers students contemporary new learning spaces to enrich their education experience.

More Media Releases from Jeremy Rockliff

More Media Releases from the Minister for Education and Training