Secretary's letterThe Hon. Paula Wriedt MHA
Dear Minister In accordance with the requirements of Section 36 of the Tasmanian State Service Act 2000 and Section 27 of the Financial Management and Audit Act 1990, I am pleased to submit to you this report of the activities of the Department of Education for the financial year 2004-05. There have been many important achievements during the year, continuing from the reform agenda of the last half decade driven by Learning Together. The Essential Learnings curriculum was implemented in all government schools from Kindergarten to Year 10 for the first time in 2005 and has captured positive national and international attention. The wide-ranging reforms outlined in the Essential Learnings for All report are steadily being implemented to ensure inclusive and equitable education for all students in Tasmanian government schools. Significant progress has been made in implementing the blueprint for post-Year 10 education and training, Tasmania: A State of Learning, with legislation passed this year to ensure that the majority of young Tasmanians will participate in options for education and training at least until they have turned 17. The department has embraced a culture of continuous improvement which is evident in the significant improvements made in meeting our key performance measures. This has resulted from the contributions of all areas of the agency. The activities of the department have also contributed to a positive local economic environment by implementing strategies to assist Tasmanian businesses to compete for and win government contracts. Overall there is much to be proud of, and this report highlights the significant contributions made by the department in meeting the education, training and information needs of the people of this state. I would like to thank all those who have contributed to this report and to the work and initiatives it describes.
Dr Martyn Forrest October 2005 |
