An independent review into Tasmania's education system has been announced, with an eye to fixing low education outcomes that trail the rest of the country.
Education Minister Jo Palmer announced the review on Monday, which would focus on improving the education system, including literacy and numeracy outcomes over the next 10 years.
Vicki Baylis, the former chief executive of the Northern Territory Department of Education, will lead the review, in consultation with the Department of Education, Children and Young People.
The details so far are scarce, with the terms of reference and scope of the review to be released in the coming weeks, and a final report to be delivered by the end of the year.
Tasmania's education system has already drawn attention this year due to its ongoing battle with low year 12 completion rates, and the number of young people leaving the state for better tertiary education opportunities elsewhere.
Calls for political action to address the education system aren't new. The current Liberal government came to power a decade ago promising to lift year 12 retention and attainment rates.
Long considered the dunce of the class, Tasmania certainly has plenty of room for improvement when it comes to education performance — but much needs to happen for student grades to lift.
In recent weeks, the pressure for the Tasmanian government to act has increased.
The Labor opposition called on the government to implement an independent education system review in May.
A month later, in an interview with ABC's Stateline, the University of Tasmania's vice-chancellor Rufus Black called on the government to make lifting year 12 completion rates a top priority, warning the state wasn't "ready for the future".
Ms Palmer said while the state had improved "in leaps and bounds" there were areas of "clear concern" that needed to be addressed.
"We have delivered significant change in the education system over the past 10 years, including extending high schools to years 11 and 12, and changing the law to ensure young people are in education or training," she said.
"This is paying off with 80.2 per cent of 15 to 19-year-olds in formal education or training, which is in line with the national average."
Independent economist Saul Eslake, demographer Lisa Denny and Emeritus Professor Michael Rowan have also been vocal supporters of educational reform in Tasmania.
Earlier this month the three penned a letter urging an independent review to "remove the politics that has undermined previous attempts to reform" the education system.
A report Mr Eslake produced earlier this month highlighted the role education would play in the state's "three Ps": population growth, workforce participation rate and economic productivity.
"The single most important reason why we are so far behind the rest of Australia on each of the 'three Ps' is our under-performing education system, which produces the worst outcomes of any state," Mr Eslake wrote.
The gap between Tasmania and the rest of the country appears to be growing.
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Data from the Productivity Commission shows the number of Tasmanians completing a year 12 qualification or equivalent fell to 53 per cent in 2023, the lowest level since 2015.
The national average is 76 per cent.
And the retention rate, the percentage of students progressing from year 10 to year 12, fell to a decade low of 69 per cent in 2022.
For the review to effect the desired outcome, a system-wide approach that includes the early childhood, vocational, public and university system was needed, Ms Denny said.
"I hope that this inquiry … will be about the whole system and about how it integrates with other areas of education," Ms Denny said.
"We spend more money per student and get the worst outcomes in any jurisdiction.
"That's exactly what we need to know: Why does this occur?"
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Labor education spokesperson Sarah Lovell welcomed the review, noting the short turnaround for the review's publication.
"We need this to be an inquiry that is done quickly, thoroughly," Ms Lovell said.
"We've seen educational outcomes get worse and worse. That's already an entire education for some students."
The Australian Education Union (AEU) Tasmania said any cuts to education must be ruled out if the "review is to be taken seriously".
"The department doesn't currently even have the resources to engage in a review, let alone make improvements based on recommendations that may follow," AEU Tasmania president David Genford said.
Posted Mon 24 Jun 2024 at 10:35am Monday 24 Jun 2024 at 10:35am Mon 24 Jun 2024 at 10:35am , updated Tue 25 Jun 2024 at 5:18am Tuesday 25 Jun 2024 at 5:18am Tue 25 Jun 2024 at 5:18am
