AUDITOR-GENERAL SHOULD INVESTIGATE TASMANIA TOMORROW ENROLMENT & RETENTION DATA

The Tasmanian Greens today called for the Auditor-General to conduct an audit of the Tasmania Tomorrow enrolment and retention data, saying that nobody knows how many students are actually enrolled in the system and Premier Bartlett cannot back-up his claims of record attendance and retention made in Parliament last week.

Greens Member for Denison, Cassy O’Connor MP, said that despite Premier Bartlett’s backdown over forcing Rosny College to join the Tasmania Tomorrow system in 2010, it is of serious concern that Labor is still stating it expects all colleges to be part of the system by 2011 – whether they have faith in the system or not!

“With 73% of Rosny College staff yesterday voting against joining the Tasmania Tomorrow system in 2010, and Launceston College staff voting in support of Rosny’s position, and with Hobart and Elizabeth Colleges expressing no confidence in Tasmania Tomorrow, it is clear the Premier is overseeing a failing reform structure,” Ms O’Connor said.

“There is widespread dissatisfaction among teachers and educators in Polytechnics and Academies, with Australian Education Union members this week threatening imminent statewide industrial action over the reforms.”

“The Premier is presenting data on enrolments and detention that is unsubstantiated and has been proven to be highly dubious, yet he is refusing to initiate an independent audit of the data.”

“If Premier Bartlett is so convinced that his claims of a 12% rise in enrolments and 95% improvement in retention can be substantiated then he won’t have a problem in requesting the Auditor-General to conduct an immediate audit of all Tasmania Tomorrow enrolment and retention data.”

“Tasmanian teachers, students and their parents deserve to know the facts, rather than just be subjected to the Premier’s spin that all is going swimmingly.”

“The Labor government has made it clear that it will make a show of listening to teachers now, but still intend to force campus to join the new system by 2011, conveniently after the March State election.”

Ms O’Connor also restated the Greens’ call that no campus is forced to join the Tasmania Tomorrow system, and reiterated the need for an independent review of the system’s implementation and educational outcomes.

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Text of Motion:

That this House:

1. Notes with concern that 73% of Rosny College teachers and staff voted against joining the Tasmania Tomorrow system in 2010, and that Launceston College staff also this week expressed overwhelming opposition to joining in 2010;

2. Acknowledges that in August Hobart College staff unanimously expressed no confidence in the Tasmania Tomorrow reforms;

3. Recognises widespread dissatisfaction among teachers and educators in Polytechnics and Academies, with Australian Education Union members this week threatening imminent statewide industrial action over the reforms;

4. Notes deep uncertainty over the Premier’s claimed and unsubstantiated enrolment and retention data for Polytechnics and Academies;

5. Condemns the Premier for refusing to initiate an independent audit of enrolments and retention data in Tasmania Tomorrow, and an independent review of Tasmania Tomorrow outcomes;

6. Notes that in a desperate attempt to avoid confronting the growing reality of a statewide education revolt over the reforms, and in an admission of failure, the Premier this week stated that neither Rosny College or Launceston College will be forced to join Tasmania Tomorrow next year – raising questions over other Colleges which have also yet to join and those already in the system;

7. Agrees that no campus should be forced enter the new Academy and Polytechnic structure against the wishes of a majority of staff in any Tasmanian college which has yet to join;

8. Agrees that the Tasmania Tomorrow reforms are in complete disarray; and

9. Directs the government to commission an independent review of the implementation of Tasmania Tomorrow and its educational outcomes, if any, and an immediate audit of the enrolment and retention data.
Cassy O’Connor MP Greens Member for Denison