This year’s Budget builds on the Lennon Labor Government’s strategic vision for education with an emphasis on the three priority areas of Early Years, Literacy and Numeracy and Retention.

Qualifications and Skills for Tasmania Tomorrow aims to address post year 10 retention rates by realigning post-school education and training to provide clear pathways for students as well as mature-aged adults seeking further training, and to meet the needs of business.

Building for the Future is the Government’s innovative Capital Investment Program and demonstrates commitment to the Student at the Centre, Skills Tasmania, and the Community Knowledge Network. It will increase by 45% from $18.596 million in 2006-07 to $26.904 million in 2007-08.

David Bartlett MHA
Minister for Education

Key Initiatives

Qualifications and Skills for Tasmania Tomorrow

• Improving post-school pathways and their role in improving Tasmania’s productivity.
  • Re-aligning post-school education and training to provide clear pathways for students and mature aged adults seeking further training, and to meet the needs of business
    
• Skills for Growth – third year of the $12.6 million, four-year initiative.
  • Directly addresses skill shortages to enable business and industry growth
    
• Continuing funding for the post Year 10 education and training strategy, Tasmania: A State of Learning: $7.9 million.
  • Improving post-Year 10 education and training opportunities for Tasmanians
    
• TAFE Tasmania - Second year of four year $9.6 million program
  • Addressing skills shortages and meeting the increase in demand for training places in traditional trades
    
• Continuing programs provided by the Australian Maritime College: third year of $2.8 million four year initiative
  • Meeting the costs of fishing, aquaculture and maritime training previously funded by the Australian Government

Improving School Facilities and Learning Outcomes

• Upgrading capital works in schools, colleges, libraries and TAFE campuses - $26.9 million in the first year of a $91.6 million four year Building For the Future program
• Increasing literacy support – $3 million to Learning Services for literacy strategies
  • In addition to funding already provided directly to schools, this strategy provides funding to Learning Services for improvement in literacy outcomes
    
• Improving the Department of Education’s information technology infrastructure and business systems: $2.4 million, four-year program
  • Funding for urgent and important information system replacement and upgrades, including the costs of new student administration and school finance systems
    
• Reducing class sizes for years 2-6: Second year of a five year $13.4 million program
  • Employing an extra 60 teachers to further reduce class sizes in all government primary school grades
    
• Reducing class sizes in Grade 7: Second year of a five year $6.6 million initiative
  • Employing an extra 29 teachers in Year 7 to reduce pupil teacher ratios to below the national average, help schools support students’ transition from Year 6 and enhance the educational performance of Year 7 students.
    
• Enhancing learning support for students with high and/or additional needs:
  • Government schools - $1 million in the second year of the additional $4 million over four years
  • Catholic schools - $250,000 for the second year of the extra $1 million over four years
  • Independent schools – $140,000 in the second year over the extra $560,000 over four years
    
• Supporting non-Government schools: $10.4 million over four years
  • Ensuring funding levels to non-Government schools are maintained as agreed between the Government and non-Government school sectors
    
• Small Schools Strategy: $600,000 additional funding to small schools
  • Additional resource support to small schools to assist principals
    
• Continuing to assist school canteens achieve full accreditation and implement nationally consistent school canteen guidelines: $50,000

Integrating with the Community and Business

• Progressing strategies that have emerged from the Engaging Our School Communities initiative: $250,000
• Establishing School Improvement Boards in each of the four Learning Services: $120,000
  • Establishing the four School Improvement Boards will members from the business community, school principals and education leaders to help Learning Services respond effectively to the learning needs in schools.

The Best Possible Start in Life

• Launching into Learning: Second year of $12.6 million, four-year program
  • Providing support for young children and their families, particularly children at risk, before they formally start school
    
• Supporting early years literacy: $835,000 over four years
  • Supporting the Minister’s Reading Challenge for young Tasmanians and reading initiatives in local communities

A Fair Go For All

• Expanding the Student Assistance Scheme (STAS): $20,000
  • Providing access to the scheme for students in the care of grandparents
    
• Continuing to provide school uniform assistance to families experiencing poverty: $242,000