The case for an education inquiry in Tasmania has become unignorable, and Jeremy Rockliff’s government needs to outline today whether or not they support one.

Following the release of alarming year 12 attainment and retention data last month, the head of the University of Tasmania has provided a sobering assessment of Tasmania’s public education system, saying it that under it – Tasmania was “not ready for the future” and that major reform was needed.

Professor Black notes that by 2050, 80 per cent of all jobs will require qualifications from uni or TAFE, but that Tasmania’s education system wasn’t producing anywhere near enough students ready to enter tertiary studies.

Labor stands for safe, secure and well paid jobs, and we want to help give Tasmanian students the best chance of getting into them once they finish school.

We fully support an inquiry to work out where we can be doing more in the education system to get the best results for our kids.

The onus is now squarely on Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Education Minister Jo Palmer to show some leadership and reveal if they do too.

Sarah Lovell MLC
Shadow Minister for Education & Early Years