Media release – Josh Willie MLC, Shadow Education Minister, 14 March 2022
Schools no safe place with violence and suspensions skyrocketing
The number of physical assaults and acts of violence against both students and staff in Tasmanian schools is alarmingly high.
Tasmania’s schools should be safe learning places where both students and teachers should feel supported and have an opportunity to learn and thrive.
However data released by the government shows the number of suspensions skyrocketed to record levels to 8,478 in 2021, up from 6,830 in the previous year.
Alarmingly 2,200 of the suspension incidents related to physical abuse of another student and 312 related to physical abuse or physical harassment of a teacher or other staff member.
Extremely concerning is the more than doubling of the number of suspension incidents in relation to harassment or stalking of a teacher or other staff member from 14 in 2020 to 33 in 2021.
Everybody understands it is not possible to prevent all incidents across all schools, but it’s abundantly clear the government is not working closely with schools and principals to provide resources and greater support.
Providing a safe and supporting learning environment is critical if are going to address the low literary and numeracy skills that impact our kids throughout their lives and have a devastating effect on their ability to sustain meaningful employment.
The Gutwein Government’s failure to act to address this growing issue shows just how out of touch they are with the issues facing families and communities.
Premier Gutwein’s failure to address this issue will have economic and social consequences for all Tasmanians.
