The State Government’s so-called stimulus package for education is cold comfort for students and parents in overcrowded classrooms in Tasmanian schools.
“Peter Gutwein has done nothing to address the impact of Budget cuts at the coalface in schools,” Ms O’Byrne said.
“The reality is that teachers and students will continue to feel the effects of this Government’s savage cuts to education.
“The GST windfall gave Mr Gutwein the means to at least put some of the 266 teachers the Government has sacked back into classrooms but he refused.
“Class sizes are increasing because of the Liberals’ cuts to education and that is indefensible.
“We are seeing classes of over 30 students when the Liberals promised they would remain under 25.
“There is $38 million worth of budget cuts to education locked into this year’s budget which means there is more pain on the way for Tasmanian schools.
Ms O’Byrne welcomed funding for capital works but said concerns were being raised that a number of needy schools had been overlooked.
“There has been a lack of transparency over the way schools were selected for funding and the Government needs to explain the process.”
Michelle O’Byrne Deputy Labor Leader Shadow Education Minister
