· David Bartlett’s reforms appear to be failing the very students they were supposed to assist

· Claims of high active retention rates losing credibility every day as more anecdotal evidence emerges

· Promised benefits of increased course availability and workplace skill development not happening

On Friday I spent a full day talking with teachers and students at the Hellyer Polytechnic, Tasmanian Skills Institute and Academy campuses. These discussions have confirmed the growing range of concerns for students and teachers, particularly at the Polytechnic.

It’s a pity David Bartlett didn’t get out there and do the same.

One of the most troubling aspects of Tasmania Tomorrow is that reforms do not appear to have been successful in engaging, motivating and retaining the very students the Premier claimed they would.

In the traditional college system, the challenge was to provide students who were not clearly focused on academic or on a trade career with access to courses that lead them to a useful qualification. The aim was to encourage them to stay on in education as they developed and found a pathway that they wanted to follow. They had some success, but we all know that we needed better outcomes.

The Polytechnic system has done nothing to address this issue and indeed, because a lot of personal development and VET subjects have been dropped, the students appear to be dropping out at an even higher rate than previous years. This fundamentally undermines the grounds on which the Premier claimed his new system was necessary.

Because of the lack of proper pastoral care, and a tight collegial system that operates in the Academy and the traditional colleges, students aren’t being chased up and encouraged to attend. Nor is there the attention to helping students find more relevant alternatives to study.

Reports of expanded choice of courses has been exaggerated, particularly for students who are still struggling to work out what they want to do in life, or are coming from a poor history of education in the high schools.

Other Polytechnic teachers on other campuses report the same issues.

Staff are frustrated and feel let down by all the promises of how the Polytechnic was supposed to operate. Timetable issues are still of concern, there is a lack of on campus leadership, poor communication and teachers complain of a lack of functional budgets to run classes.

Also, staff reported no backup and delays of weeks when trying to deal with Polytechnic students who do the wrong thing.

I was very concerned at the reported high levels of stress, sick leave, and plain old disillusionment for teachers in the experiment they were previously willing to give a go, but now have lost confidence in. That’s despite protestations from the top during last Budget Estimates that it was not a problem.

David Bartlett should heed the advice of the Tasmanian Liberals, teachers, parents and students.

I am even more convinced than ever that there should be a moratorium on further college transitions into Tasmania Tomorrow and there should be an immediate independent and fully consultative review of the entire system to fix this mess. There needs also to be greater assistance for Year 11 and 12 students who are currently attending the Polytechnic and who want to do a combined Academy and Polytechnic course.

With the morale of the staff so low, it may not be possible to achieve the cultural change that we all know is needed.

Tasmanian students should not be used as guinea pigs. Their futures have been undermined by the Premiers’ stubborn pursuit of flawed reforms.
Sue Napier MP Shadow Minister for Education