Labor has questioned the State Government’s funding approach to extending Tasmanian high schools

Right to Information documents have revealed how much money is being spent extending schools to years 11 and 12 – even when there are no students.

THE State Government has defended the extension of Tasmanian high schools as a long-term investment, as documents reveal hundreds of thousands of dollars is being spent staffing near-empty classrooms.

Right to Information documents released to the State Opposition show 14 of the extended schools have less than five students enrolled in years 11 and 12 in 2020.

Of those schools, 10 will receive $186,000 for years 11 and 12, with the grades to be staffed by 1.5 full time teachers.

Three will receive between $202,000 and $235,000 for years 11 and 12, while one school with an enrolment of zero will receive $69,000.

In comparison, a school with 79 students in years 11 and 12 will receive $265,000 and 1.9 extra teachers.

One of the Liberals’ key education reforms has been its pledge to extend all Tasmanian high schools to years 11 and 12.

Forty-seven Tasmanian high schools have been extended so far and eight more schools are due to extend next year.

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Labor education spokesman Josh Willie questioned the Year 11 and 12 school funding model. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

While Labor would not reverse the policy, it has long questioned the cost and whether it would come at the expense of overall school budgets and the college system.

Labor education spokesman Josh Willie said funds and teaching staff were being allocated even where schools had no enrolments in years 11 and 12.

“If schools are being significantly funded with low or no students, it means students in other schools are missing out,” Mr Willie said.

“[Education Minister] Jeremy Rockliff needs to find a more equitable way to fund extension schools and he needs to be more transparent.”

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Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff defended the Government’s Year 11 and 12 funding. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Mr Rockliff said the policy was working, with year 11 and 12 enrolments at extension schools now at 912.5 full-time equivalent enrolments, up from 853.1 FTE last year.

“It is a significant long-term investment that is working with retention and attainment increasing over time, which means more students are staying at school longer and achieving more while they are there,” Mr Rockliff said.

“Where there is a small enrolment in Years 11 and 12 at an extension school, resourcing is provided to support the school’s Year 9-10 cohort and their transition pathways and also to re-engage students who may have withdrawn during the year from other learning options in the region.”