Productivity Commission report shows Tasmania’s apparent retention rate was 80.4 per cent
New data has revealed some promising news for Tasmania’s school retention rates, highlighting a massive increase under the current government but the opposition has cried foul. DATA UNPACKED >>
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UPDATE: LABOR has pointed to poor education outcomes outlined in new data from the Productivity Commission, in response to the Liberals’ celebration of improved retention.
The latest data on school education from the Productivity Commission shows Tasmania’s apparent retention rate to year 12 in government schools was 80.4 per cent in 2019.
The figure is above the national figure of 78.0 per cent.
In 2014 when the Liberals took office the retention rate was 70 per cent.
However Labor pointed to the figures across all schools, which show a lesser improvement and a result below the national rate.
Across all government and non-government schools in Tasmania the retention rate to year 12 was 74.3 per cent.
The figure was below the national rate of 82 per cent and the second worst in the nation – but a five per cent improvement since the Liberals took office.
Labor education spokesman Josh Willie said the Liberals were failing Tasmanian students, families and teaching staff with the state’s education outcomes still among the worst in the nation.
“Mr Rockliff has cherry picked figures from the report making his claim based on state schools only when in fact he is the Minister for all schools,” Mr Willie said.
“Retention is just one piece of the puzzle and what Mr Rockliff fails to inform the public is that barring the NT we are spending the most in the country per student for the worst outcomes.
“Attainment rates for Year 12 students by socio-economic status across all schools in Tasmania are just 58 per cent – significantly lower than the national average of 72 per cent – and that figure remains the same as 2008.”
Australia Education Union Tasmania state manager Brian Wightman, former Labor education minister, said Tasmanian public schools were getting “great results”, but the state government should not get the credit.
“If there’s improvements in retention and results at our Tasmanian public schools and colleges, it’s educators who should get the credit for hard work with minimal resources,” Mr Wightman said.
“The reality is that public school retention rates are steady or increasing while private school retention rates are dropping, despite both state and federal government increasing per student funding to private schools more than public schools.”
The state government has hailed the improved retention figures as a vindication of the Liberals’ policy to extend all Tasmanian public high schools to year 12.
INITIAL STORY:
THE Liberal state government has presided over a sustained increase in Tasmania’s school retention rate, new figures show.
The latest data on school education from the Productivity Commission shows Tasmania’s apparent retention rate to year 12 in government schools was 80.4 per cent in 2019.
The figure is above the national figure of 78.0 per cent.
In 2014 when the Liberals took office the retention rate was 70 per cent.
Tasmania’s woeful retention rate was motivation for one of the Liberals’ signature policies to extend all of the state’s government high schools to year 12.
Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff welcomed the latest figures.
“This strong result clearly demonstrates our plan to keep more students engaged in education by extending all high schools to years 11 and 12, is working,” Mr Rockliff said.
“This is further supported by changes to the Education Act which mean students are now required to stay at school until they complete year 12 or a Certificate III, or turn 18 years of age.
“We also recognise the importance of early learning, and the data shows Tasmania has the highest portion of children enrolled in a preschool program the year before full time schooling for 15 hours per week or more.
“We will continue to deliver increased access to high quality early learning through our Child and Family Learning Centres and our nation-leading Working Together initiative.”
So far 58 Tasmanian high and district schools have extended to year 12.
The Productivity Commission Report on Government services also showed Tasmania’s year 12 attainment rate in 2019, or the proportion of students who met the requirement of a Year 12 Certificate, was 58 per cent.
This compared with the national rate of 72 per cent.
The number of Tasmanian school leavers who were fully engaged in education or work was 54.5 per cent, compared with 63.2 per cent nationally.
In terms of teacher ratios, the report showed the ratio in Tasmania was 13.7 government schools, behind the national rate of 14.2.
Mr Rockliff also pointed to figures showing increased investment per student in government schools to $19,517.
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