The Hodgman Liberal Government has a goal to lead the nation in education and create a job ready generation of young Tasmanians.
We are getting on with our Plan, including implementing a new and comprehensive Education Act in 2017, plus investment in literacy and numeracy programs, health, parental engagement, and retention and attainment.
The new Education Act is the result of extensive consultations, including consideration of over 1,000 responses and several rounds of consultation - from submissions to participation in workshops and information sessions.
A centrepiece of our Plan is our high school extension program, which provides students with more choice about where to complete their senior secondary education while sending a clear message that school doesn’t end in Year 10.
And it’s working - 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 Labor/Green Government.
To evaluate our progress and build on the solid framework in place, we recently commissioned an independent review into Year 9-12 education.
The Australian Council for Educational Research has now delivered their report.
This report recommends promoting the value of education to the end of year 12, and highlights the importance of curriculum. The report also recommends multi-campus schools, which – although outside the scope of the review- is already being considered through the successful implementation of our high school extension program through collaboration between schools.
The Government welcomes the report and agrees to the recommendations which will provide a solid platform for strengthening Year 9-12 in the State.
I will now work with the cross sectoral advisory committee on the implementation of the review recommendations.
There is no better foundation stone to build Tasmania’s future than in education. We will continue to implement our long term Plan for education to ensure every Tasmanian student can look forward to a brighter future.
For a full copy of the report go to http://bit.ly/2mvfXRD.
More Media Releases from Jeremy Rockliff
More Media Releases from the Minister for Education and Training