Today’s Education Performance Report is yet another nail in the coffin of Tasmania Tomorrow.
Tasmania Tomorrow was supposed to address issues of absenteeism and retention in our post-year 10 education system, however after the first year of operation student attendance figures have got worse, and there is apparently no data available on the crucial retention rates.
This is despite David Bartlett telling the parliament on the 29th September last year that there was a 95 percent retention rate at both the Academy and Polytechnic:
“I can also report that both the CEO of the Polytechnic and the CEO of the Tasmanian Academy reported to me just yesterday that there is a 95 per cent-plus retention rate into third term, which has never been seen before in our colleges. I repeat – a 12 per cent improvement and a 95 per cent-plus retention of students.”
No wonder Mr Bartlett didn’t want to continue as Education Minister – his own Department’s report fails to back the claims he made to Parliament.
In the absence of updated statistics on retention, I challenge the Education Minister to release a snapshot of daily attendance at the Polytechnic and Academy, compared to enrolment. To be fair to Ms Thorp, I would even be happy for her to choose the day!
No amount of selective listening and consulting by Ms Thorp will change the fact that the Tasmania Tomorrow experiment has comprehensively failed Tasmanian students and that it needs to be overhauled.
The Tasmanian Liberals remain committed to fixing the post-year 10 education mess and are currently considering options for advancing our policy position.
Michael Ferguson MP
Shadow Minister for Education and Skills
Thursday 29 April, 2010
Dear Michael
The last thing senior secondary education in this state needs is a slanging match, seeking political capital. The Liberals need to work constructively, but firmly, with both the other parties to ensure that the damage is undone. This need not entail a return to exactly the old system, but it must end the divisive presence of two institutions on the one campus, and a proper opportunity (and encouragement) for Year 11 and 12 students to continue a well rounded and appropriate general education, with the options to mix and match more academic and more vocational subjects.
The incompetent and bullying leaders of the new institutions are not the appropriate people to oversee these changes.
I concur with Tim…
The incompetent and bullying leaders of the new institutions are not the appropriate people to oversee these changes.