Tasmanian State Budget 2019: Where the Government is spending the dollars in education

Education is one of the largest expenses in the State Budget. Which schools stand to gain the most from this year’s spending?

Which of Tasmania’s schools stand to gain the most from this year’s State Budget?

EARLY learning has emerged as the winner in education for the 2019-20 financial year.

Funding for a large portion of the other previously announced, big-ticket education items is allocated for future years, such as the new Brighton High School, with nothing funded for next financial year and just $1m for 2020-21.

The $30 million school is not expected to be operating before 2024.

The new K-12 school for Penguin has been allocated $4.75 million for the next financial year and a further $7.5 million for each of the following years.

The first $6 million for the new $22 million Sorell school will be rolled out in 2020-21.

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Funding of just over $15 million has been set aside for six new child and family learning centres which will be located in the regions of Sorell, Kingborough, Glenorchy, East Tamar, West Ulverstone and the Waratah-Wynyard region.

Four of the centres will be open by 2024, with construction of the first to begin in 2019-20.

Implementing free preschool for three-year-olds has been well funded for the next year — $8 million — with up to $10.5 million a year to support this initiative going forward.

Another three public high schools will be extended year 12 in 2020, leaving 11 to be done by the target date of 2022.

Overall, education costs come in at $7.1 billion over four years and will include the recruitment of 358 new staff, including 250 more teachers.

Just under $195 million has been budgeted over the next four years for new schools, upgrades, extensions, new early learning centres and TAFE facilities.

TasTAFE will receive $2.9 million over two years.

An extra 75 student places for the Diploma of Nursing qualification will be funded as will three regional sports co-ordinator positions.

The Department of Education will oversee the sports program, aimed at increasing children’s participation in sport.

“Targeted investment in education, from birth through to Year 12 and beyond, will ensure Tasmania has a job-ready generation of young people with the skills to participate in a modern economy,” Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said.