For the past week a desperate Mr Wightman has tried to convince Tasmanians that the Liberals visionary policy to extend high schools to year 12 would result in too many students and schools ‘couldn’t cope’. Now in order to justify closing schools he is arguing the opposite – our schools have falling populations.
Which is it Mr Wightman? You can’t have it both ways.
Given we have the lowest year 12 completion rate in the nation, it was bizarre enough that Mr Wightman felt compelled to try and claim a policy to get more students to continue their education is a bad thing.
To now contradict himself to justify his policy to shut schools, just proves this Acting Minister has no credibility and highlights how little Labor and the Greens value education.
In yesterday’s Advocate Mr Wightman was quoted as saying –
“student numbers in the past four years, from kinder to grade 10, have declined by approximately 3,000 students.” He then went on to admit “forecasts suggest this trend will not change any time soon.”
It is clear only a majority Liberal Hodgman Government will deliver the education system that Tasmanian children deserve.
While the Government is intent on closing schools we have announced a $60 million Education Investment and School Retention Fund to keep schools open and invest in our children’s future.
