The Tasmanian Greens believe that education is integral to our quality of life, and the influence shaping our economy and society over which we have most control. Accessible and affordable education also underpins a vibrant, informed, open and progressive democracy and is at the heart of achieving a clean, green and clever Tasmania.

Education should, therefore, be a continuous process where learning opportunities are available to all citizens throughout their lives. Fundamental to this is a highly professional and valued education sector workforce.

For these reasons, education will be a major funding and policy priority for any responsible government. The Greens strongly advocate a high quality, state funded, inclusive public education system, as well as a progressive, non-government education system, openly accountable, and funded on a needs basis.

Socio-economic disadvantage and demographic isolation remain barriers to education for some Tasmanians. This results in lower retention rates, poorer literacy and numeracy outcomes and higher levels of challenging student behaviour and disengagement. The Greens advocate curriculum models, teaching methods and organisational structures which lead to improved access and participation in learning, regardless of a student’s economic, social or geographic circumstance.

This will be balanced by an appreciation that frequent, sometimes ill-considered and under resourced changes to the environment in which learning institutions operate is detrimental to effective learning and a disincentive for educational practitioners to continue in the workforce. Furthermore, students experiencing learning or engagement difficulties, for whatever reason, need to be identified at the earliest possible age and compensating strategies applied.

This state is capable of providing world-class education for its people, and the Greens see no reason why that cannot be achieved.

Measures

Accessibility and Relevance:  ensure all educational facilities are of a standard conducive to student learning;  provide additional resources and new strategies to improve participation and retention rates among rural and remote students;  consult with all stakeholders to produce a curriculum which will educate students for the future, including comprehensive sex education, family planning, human health and relationships courses

Assisting Students:  review and research the problem of bullying in consultation with the teacher representative groups, associations of parents and friends, research institutions and other interested parties to develop better strategies that reduce inappropriate student behaviour;  fund a research project to investigate a recommended minimum school leaving age and work with all stakeholders to implement strategies that encourage learners to value and continue with education beyond that age;  provide a better range of responses to students with challenging behaviours;  introduce a more comprehensive range of curricular activities to extend able students and to encourage the less engaged

Education Department Staff:  support schools and colleges in becoming learning communities to ensure the opportunity, resources and encouragement for teachers to further their professional skills;  provide more appropriate and equitable levels of leadership across all schools and colleges;  develop a recruitment program to attract high quality exiting students into teaching and the professional support services;  resolve any outstanding issues regarding the working conditions and remuneration of all teachers, temporary teachers, teacher aides, short term and ancillary staff; support pay parity with other states for teachers;  provide additional resources for schools to reduce class size averages; review the recruitment and training of teachers to ensure the most competent and capable people enter the teaching profession; provide additional resources and support for teachers of special needs students

Information Technology:  ensure equitable access to Information and Communications Technology across all educational facilities

Post Compulsory Education:  ensure that all students continuing past year 10 have equitable access to high quality, full-time, flexible and inclusive education;  consult with the federal government, local government, Parents and Friends Association and business groups to develop strategies to make post-compulsory education more affordable for those from remote areas; require, as a matter of urgency, that all public learning institutions monitor and record the full attendance and academic progress of all students to ensure the best possible chance of individual success, and to provide counselling and assistance in changing direction if a student’s original learning pathway proves untenable; evaluate all changes to the delivery of post-compulsory secondary education and, in genuine consultation with teachers, parents and students, take appropriate action to address any shortcomings

Inclusion:  review the Inclusion Policy to allow a thoroughgoing, open evaluation of the effects, strengths and weaknesses of the policy as currently implemented, and initiate recommendations which result from that review

General:  establish stricter guidelines for corporate sponsorship and advertising in all state funded educational institutions; phase out poor quality food in all state school canteens; encourage healthy lifestyles through school physical activity programs; support the development of niche tertiary courses to complement the economic and social needs of Tasmania; cooperate with the Federal government to provide the best possible primary and secondary student dental service