$5.8 million wasted on Tas Tomorrow “success”

Posted by Michael on Jun 30, 2010 in News | 0 comments

It was revealed in Budget Estimates today that the failed Tasmania Tomorrow experiment has cost Tasmanian taxpayers $5,884,000 and with just six months to go before the start of the college year, there is still no implantation plan and no sign of any enabling legislation.

$5.8m is enough to employ some 60 additional teachers, which would have made a real and positive difference to the educational outcomes of our children.  A far cry from the damage done to the education of a whole generation of our young people.

Astoundingly, Minister Thorp claimed Tasmania Tomorrow to be a “success” and an “ongoing reform”, but on further questioning that she didn’t support the changes to Tasmania Tomorrow she has just announced!

The Minister told the Committee that “my preference…[was] to proceed with Tasmania Tomorrow as originally envisaged”, and when asked whether she wanted to undertake the College restoration, flatly replied “no.”

No wonder the overhaul process so trumpeted by the Greens is proceeding so slowly, with legislation not intended to be introduced into Parliament until 21 September, uncomfortably close to the end of the year.  It’s starting to look like 2008 all over again.

Any slippage in this timetable will cause significant concerns and uncertainty for Tasmanian students, parents and teachers.