The Tasmanian Council of Social Service (TasCOSS) has cited new State Government figures’ indicating that abseentism in schools is on the rise as evidence that the current education debate needs to be broader than just the Tasmania Tomorrow reforms.

TasCOSS CEO Tom Muller said that we know that many Tasmanian students are disengaging from the education system well before they finish High School.

“Addressing Tasmania’s poor educational outcomes is not just about years 11and 12, but also about ensuring students are not dropping out in years 7-10 or even earlier” Mr Muller said.

“Students disengage from education for various complex reasons and usually well before they leave High School.”

“Bullying in particular has been identified as a problem in schools around Tasmania and can lead to early disengagement from education as well as mental and physical health problems.”

“The government’s Launching into Learning program focuses on ensuring the youngest Tasmania’s children are ready for school – but more needs to be done to ensure that schools can then provide the supportive environments that some children need to stay engaged in year 7 -10.”

TasCOSS believes that a comprehensive approach to improving Tasmania’s education outcomes, including retention rates, must include:

Expanding community-based early learning opportunities in areas where there is unmet need;
Investing in evidence-based programs to enable schools to provide supportive environments:
Making anti-bullying strategies mandatory;
Allocating resources to enable schools to establish education programs and partnerships with community organisations to provide pathways for disengaged students to re -engage with education and training offered in a school setting or to undertake education and training opportunities within local community settings;
Investigating and responding to the nature and incidence of absenteeism in schools;