The Hodgman Government is absolutely committed to improving educational outcomes for Tasmanians with the introduction of the new Education Act.
The Education Act introduces a suite of positive policies to Government to improve the life chances and choices for the many Tasmanians who experience disadvantage and overcome 16 years of low educational outcomes which had become the new normal under Labor.
Since coming to Government, the Hodgman Government have prioritised investment into our high schools, extending them to year 12 and conducting extensive capital works upgrades – the most extensive in 20 years.
We are already targeting investment to gain improvement and support students with the greatest need – we have increased literacy and numeracy specialist teachers in schools, we have introduced the $18 million Learning in Families together initiative to engage parents in learning and we have increased funding to improve Adult Literacy.
We are seeing improvements in our educational outcomes such as the lift in our year 10-12 apparent retention rate, as well as a 57 per cent increase in enrolments at the first 12 extension schools.
Labor’s priorities are wrong – they will always play cheap politics over and above what’s in the best interests of our state, who forget the retention rate to year 12 was as low as 70.4% in 2011 and going backwards to 67.1% in 2012.
We know we have to work hard to continue changing the educational path of Tasmania. The Education Act supports our belief that children should have an education that helps them reach their full potential.
Tasmanians deserve better, today and for generations to come which is why, through the Education Act, we are providing these important years with the funding and structural reform they need to succeed.
More Media Releases from Jeremy Rockliff
More Media Releases from the Minister for Education and Training