The Hodgman Liberal Government has strongly committed to lifting educational achievement in Tasmania and increasing the levels of engagement, retention and attainment for students is a vital part of our Plan.
Our goal is to lead the Nation in Education and create a job-ready generation. To achieve this we need more students to stay at school longer and achieve more while they are engaged in education.
By getting the budget back on track we can now continue to invest into essential services, like education, including extending schools to years 11 and 12 and the proposal to extend the compulsory years of schooling through the review of the Education Act. We are committed to getting this right.
We acknowledge that extending our schools and changing legislation sets a strong framework. We must evaluate our progress and build on that framework to ensure the education provided in the latter years of schooling is fit for purpose.
We are committed to doing this in a consultative way, drawing on the experiences of students, the expertise of our workforce and the views of education stakeholders.
The University of Tasmania has already been commissioned by the Department of Education to investigate and describe the implementation of the Years 11 and 12 extension. This important, independent evaluation will provide valuable information to assist in the ongoing implementation of this initiative.
In 2016-17 we will invest $250,000 in an independent review of the way education is provided in Years 9-12 in Tasmanian schools, including vocational education and training provision.
The review will include an independent review of data, curriculum policy and provision and design and delivery in the three Tasmanian education sectors: Department of Education, Independent Schools Tasmania and Tasmanian Catholic Education Office.
The tender for this important review is to be advertised today
As part of the review, a draft report including recommendations on the focus areas will be provided to my office by the end of November 2016.
I look forward to both the results of this review, and the outcomes of the evaluation of schools extending to years 11 and 12 as they are key to the success of our work.
More Media Releases from Jeremy Rockliff
More Media Releases from the Minister for Education and Training