MEDIA RELEASE

EDUCATION POLICIES MUST LOOK

BEYOND TASMANIA TOMORROW

9 February 2010

The Our Island Our Voices campaign for a fairer Tasmania today reminded Tasmania’s political parties that the current pre-election debate about the future of education in this State can not simply begin and end with the Tasmania Tomorrow reforms.

Releasing their latest statement on key issues in the March 20 State Election, the Our Island Our Voices campaign statement on improving Tasmania’s education outcomes seeks to emphasise that the problems with Tasmania’s poor retention rates and educational outcomes begin much earlier then the end of Year 10.

“Far too many Tasmanian students are losing interest and disengaging from the education system in High School and even as early Primary School,” campaign Spokesperson Tom Muller said.

“Once these kids lose interest it is extremely hard to get them back on track and into meaningful education and training later in life.”

“If we are to seriously improve Tasmania’s educational outcomes and productivity, then we must look beyond what happens when students finish year 10 and instead look at how we create more supportive school environments from an earlier age so that those kids most at risk of dropping out are not left to simply fall through the cracks.”

The Our Island Our Voices statement calls on all Tasmania’s political to release comprehensive education policies before the March 20 election that includes the following measures designed to make all Tasmanian schools more supportive environments for particularly vulnerable and disadvantaged students:

A doubling in State Government funding over the next four-years for the ‘Raising the Bar, Closing the Gap’ initiative that directs funding to our most vulnerable and disadvantaged schools.
Increased funding for accommodation and travel support for students living in regional and rural areas engaging in education and training.
Support for evidence-based initiatives to create more supportive school environments, including a mandatory anti-bullying strategy in all government and non-government schools.
Increased support for students with a disability to attend mainstream schools and training. 

Mr Muller said the Our Island Our Voices / EMRS issues poll in November revealed that education is by-far the single most important issue for Tasmanian voters in this election and it would be wrong for parties to assume this concern related to only the Tasmania Tomorrow reforms.

“For 45% of Tasmanian voters to nominate education as their single most important issue in deciding who they will vote for on March 20 shows that the level of concern Tasmanians have about the state of our education system across the entire system.”

“There are clearly votes to be won by the political party that is prepared to outline what they will do to improve standards across the entire education system from pre-school to Year 12, not just what they intend to do about the Tasmania Tomorrow reforms.”