The Liberals Education Policy released today is a disgrace and continues the lack of care and interest from the Liberals in education that we’ve seen over the past ten years.
The policy today is basically a capital upgrade fund for schools that have been neglected and there is very little additional support in it for kids that are falling through the cracks in terms of literacy and numeracy.
Tasmania has some of the worst literacy levels in the country and key education outcomes have been steadily declining under the Liberals since they took office in 2014.
The Liberals did not meet their 2020 target that Tasmania will be at or above the national standard in every single NAPLAN measurement and on the current trajectory it is unlikely the Year 7 reading target will be achieved by 2030.
The year 12 attainment rate has gone backwards, and at 53.1 per cent it is the worst it has been in years, slipping well behind the national average of 76.3 per cent.
In addition to poor outcomes, attendance rates are below the national average in most categories.
Retention rates for secondary students have also dropped to just 71.7 per cent, the lowest in the nation outside the NT and well below the national average. This figure is nearly back to 2010 levels (71 per cent), which begs the question – what have the Liberals been doing to improve results?
Labor will be releasing our education policies in the coming days.
Education is key to our state’s future and after 10 years of Liberal Government, they have failed on every measure. Jeremy Rockliff's Liberals shouldn't be given 14 years and this education policy, lacking in ambition and support, is one of the reasons why.
Josh Willie
Shadow Minister for Education and Early Years