Michelle O’Byrne: Education Minister creates a mess in Tasmanian schools

The Liberals have today admitted their ill-thought-out education policy will cause disruption in schools.

Shadow Education Minister Michelle O’Byrne says highly skilled teachers are being removed from classrooms to fill literacy and numeracy positions.

“Labor supports increased investment in literacy and numeracy but this is quickly becoming a mess,” Ms O’Byrne said.

“Jeremy Rockliff failed to address how the vacancies left by the new appointments will be filled.

“The new Minister has inherited a thought bubble left to him by the previous Liberal education spokesperson.

“The mess left in schools is being referred to in education circles as ‘Ferguson’s folly’.

“The State Government must guarantee the vacancies created by their new policy are filled with staff as highly qualified as those they are replacing.

“We can’t have a situation where the policy means students miss out on specialised teaching.

“The Liberals have failed to adequately consult will school communities and now they’re left with a staffing headache in the middle of the school year.”
Michelle O’Byrne MP Shadow Education Minister