Valuing education, teachers, the key to success, report says

Improving the understanding of the value of education is part of the solution to increase the success of Tasmanian students, an independent review has found.

Independent Reviewer Vicki Baylis and Minister for Education Jo Palmer speak to the media at Parliament Square in Hobart on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.

Improving the understanding of the value of education is part of the solution to increase the success of Tasmanian students, an independent review has found.

The government has released the report of an five-month review of the state’s education system.

Report author Vicki Baylis said she had heard from a wide range of student, teachers, parents and others during the review, which was delivered to the government before Christmas.

“There’s a great opportunity collectively in Tasmania, to build on what’s so but to ensure that the narrative and the reason for going to school and the purpose of learning is fully understood and shared, and it brings young people into this at a higher rate than is currently happening for some young people,” she said.

“The other part of the report focuses on around how we support teachers and the work that happens with the teaching workforce as well as the support staff within schools.”

Education Minister Jo Palmer said the report made a number of recommendations to improve outcomes and would form a blueprint for the next generation of learners.

“These include supercharging our literacy strategy, improving school staff wellbeing, ensuring alignment between our education system and the University of Tasmania, and getting ready to trial a multi-school organisation model,” she said.

“The report highlights that our Lifting Literacy approach is working and that we are already seeing results from our investment.

“We will continue these efforts, while investing record amounts into school upgrades and new builds; providing more support for students with a disability; increasing VET courses across all secondary schools and colleges and continuing to grow our skilled education workforce.”

Australian Education Union Tasmanian Branch President David Genford speaks to the media on Parliament Lawns in Hobart on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.

Australian Education Union Tasmanian Branch President David Genford said some of the changes proposed by the report were put forward by teachers and rejected by the department during the last enterprise bargaining round.

“We’re keen to see some of these put in place, we’re also conscious that this is another day of announcements — what we’re keen on is action,” he said.

“We’ve got a workforce that’s struggling and that needs that support. We’re really pleased that staff wellbeing is one of the main announcements made today but we need action, not just announcements.”

Labor’s shadow minister for education and early years Sarah Lovell said her party was open to a multipartisan approach on education.

“When Labor first called on the government to conduct a review into Tasmania’s education, the Liberals were hesitant. It’s crucial that they take the report seriously, and don’t just stick it in a drawer and forget about it.

“The report notes the importance of improving the wellbeing of school staff, including looking into issues surrounding high workloads.

“Educators have been calling for this for years and it has to be a priority, but it shouldn’t have taken a review to see action.”

And University of Tasmania vice-chancellor Rufus Black said the report provided an opportunity for better coordination within the education system.

“A laser-like focus on literacy, a model to ensure children don’t get left behind, curriculum development in partnership with another state, more time for teachers to teach, and continuing professional development – these are strong, welcome recommendations,” he said.

Originally published as Valuing education, teachers, the key to success, report says