A Dean Winter Labor Government will deliver a Fresh Start to make Tasmania a better place for young people.
Labor will work with Principals, pause and consolidate reform processes, and develop a funding model that is transparent, needs based, and aligned with Gonski principles.
Labor will:
- Ensure funding for schools is transparently allocated based on need
- Work collaboratively with schools on any reform process
- Ban pork-barrelling in school infrastructure funding
Why we need it
After 11 years of the Liberals, Tasmania’s educational outcomes are at the bottom of the class.
- Tasmania’s literacy results are behind other states.
- Schools seeking capital upgrades have had to rely on pork-barrelling.
- A lack of consultation and transparency around a plan for reform has led to confusion in schools and among educators, principals and other school staff and students.
The details
A Dean Winter Labor Government will ensure state and federal school funding is allocated to schools based on need, as intended under the Gonski funding model.
Labor will pause the two concurrent reform processes, ‘Community of Schools’ and ‘Multi-Schools Organisation’, which are causing confusion in schools and amongst educators.
Labor will consult on a process moving forward, informed by key stakeholders, to consider which model of education will deliver the best outcomes for Tasmanians students, teachers and school communities, and the best process for any trials of these or any other reforms.
Labor will ensure that a governance model is in place that results in decisions being made transparently and consistently. The model will be responsive to the diverse needs of Tasmanian school communities, and the framework will support educational outcomes and community needs.
The overarching approach will be done with a focus on ensuring multipartisan support for the final model to ensure there is a commitment to, and understanding of, the structural long-term reform that is necessary to deliver the best outcomes for Tasmanian students.
A Dean Winter Labor Government will work with the Tasmanian Principals’ Association to support Principals to collaborate across the regions. Principals undertake an important leadership role in their local communities, and they should be supported to share their experiences and expertise.
Labor commits to de-politicising expenditure on infrastructure and maintenance in public schools, ensuring it is needs-based, transparent and strategically aligned with ensuring effective learning environments.
