The Hodgman Liberal Government has a goal to lead the nation in education and create a job-ready generation of young Tasmanians, and to achieve this we need more students to stay at school longer.
That is why we are extending high schools to Year 12.
Today I visited Ulverstone High School where over 50 students are able to continue their Year 11 and 12 studies this year as a result of this important government initiative.
Ulverstone High is one of the additional 18 schools extending to Year 12 in 2017, with a further eight schools to extend in 2018.
This brings the total number of schools to 38, which is significantly more than our expectations and the result of strong community support.
The Government is supporting the provision of Year 11 and 12 at Ulverstone High School with $345 000 in capital works to refurbish classrooms at Ulverstone High School as part of the Year 11 and 12 extensions, to be complete by March.
These works include the upgrade of existing classrooms, the common room and small extension for staff. This follows the Government’s recent capital works including $210,000 for gymnasium improvements, $95,000 for toilet block and shed improvements, and $10,000 for wind turbine repairs.
The Government also recently announced the $15 million Collective Ed program to help equip Ulverstone High School students with the necessary skills to successfully transition into their chosen careers, through a partnership between the Tasmanian Government, the Beacon Foundation, and the Paul Ramsay Foundation.
It is initiatives like these that build on our current long term plan to improve education in Tasmania through school extensions, which is already on track with a 57 per cent increase in enrolments at participating schools since 2014.
There is always more to be done which is why we will continue to roll out Year 11 and 12 at high schools right across Tasmania.
For a full list of schools offering Year 11 and 12, see http://tased-schools-11-12.blogspot.com.au/.
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