Hodgman must come clean on school funding

Terry Polglase, AEU Tasmanian Branch President, said:

“If figures revealed today in Parliament by Greens MHA Nick McKim are correct, the State Government has severely misled parents and school communities about public school funding.”

“Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff has repeatedly said that School Resource Packages have increased by 5% but we agree with Mr McKim that the true figure is just 2.9%.”

“The Better Schools Funding (Gonski) component of the School Resource Packages has risen by 5% but that Gonski component is approximately half of the total package. To claim that the entire School Resource Package has increased by 5% is therefore a furphy and completely misleading.”

“It is also completely misleading to claim record investment in education when primary schools have had up to two teachers cut and colleges up to four.”

“What is clear is that the State Government has broken a key election promise to not sack teachers and it has savaged education budgets.”

“The Hodgman Government’s broken promises and budget cuts have delivered increased class sizes and the axing of vital program such as literacy and numeracy support.”
Terry Polglase, AEU Tasmanian Branch President