Media release – Independent Member for Bass, Lara Alexander MP, 14 September 2023

Independent Member for Bass, Lara Alexander MP, calls for the Rockliff Government to prioritise education in Tasmania

Education is undeniably one of the most vital gifts we can bestow upon our children, shaping their futures and strengthening our society. Today, the independent Member for Bass, Lara Alexander, MP, is calling upon the Rockliff Government to make education a top priority before it’s too late. Mrs Alexander suggested the Minister for Education, the Hon. Roger Jaensch, MP, is neglecting his responsibilities, and emphasised the urgency of addressing the Tasmania’s education crisis.

Mrs Alexander said recent NAPLAN results in Tasmania highlighted the serious shortcomings in Tasmania’s education system.

“While Minister Jaensch attempted to downplay the NAPLAN results, they are indicative of the government’s failure to prioritise education. The Minister attempted to embellish the picture and make it look like this had nothing to do with the Rockliff Government dropping the ball on education,” Mrs Alexander said.

“The profound impact of an excellent education on a child’s life cannot be overestimated. Education is one of the most precious gifts a child can receive. It is proven fact that education is a vehicle for upward social mobility and a pathway out of poverty. It should be a point of shame and embarrassment for the government, and it pains me to highlight this, but under the Rockliff Government Tasmanian schools have slumped to be the worst in Australia in 18 out of 20 indicators. Unbelievably, the response from Minister Jaensch is give us another seven years to fix it.

“I vehemently disagree with the Rockliff Government setting the bar so low when they announced their current goal to meet reading standards above the national minimum is 2030 – seven years away.

“We cannot afford to wait seven more years. For many students, this represents a complete junior school cycle. Minister Jaensch is condemning Tasmanian students to a second-rate education, and he is not preparing them for high school. He is limiting their career choices by undermining their right to an excellent education and critical literacy skills.

“Minister Jaensch needs to give us confidence and reassure the community that there is an evidence-based, structured approach to literacy in all Tasmanian primary schools, as promised,” Mrs Alexander said.

Responding to the Minister’s claim that criticism disrespects students and teachers, Mrs. Alexander said Tasmanians, especially those with school-age children, simply want straight, transparent answers.

In her address to the parliament, Mrs. Alexander referenced Dr. Lisa Denny, a founding member of the Tasmanian 100% Literacy Alliance, and her opinion piece following the release of the NAPLAN results.

Dr. Denny emphasised the urgent need to align literacy teaching practices with the Science of Reading and the Science of Learning, calling for structured literacy instruction and explicit teaching practices. Dr. Denny pointed out that despite promises made in the past, Tasmania continues to lag behind in literacy and numeracy, with one in ten students requiring additional support.

Mrs. Alexander also questioned the Rockliff Government’s handling of the tender process for literacy training packages and highlighted the Tasmanian 100% Literacy Alliance expressed concerns about the choice of Deakin University as a provider. The Alliance has highlighted the need for expertise in structured literacy and explicit teaching practices, suggesting that the evaluation criteria for the tender were insufficient.

Mrs. Alexander also expressed concerns about the impact of inadequate education on Tasmania’s workforce, emphasising that businesses and organisations frequently report that school leavers lack essential literacy and numeracy skills. She stressed the importance of closing this gap to meet the growing demands for professions like nursing, caregiving, and teaching.

The independent Member for Bass concluded her address by underlining the necessity for clear answers and transparency in addressing Tasmania’s education challenges. She called for the government to fulfil its promises and work toward achieving a literate Tasmania.