‘Keep up, catch up’: federal increase to school funding so Tas isn’t left behind

An increase in education funding aims to ensure Tasmanian students ‘keep up, catch up’. Why the education union believes the extra millions will be ‘life changing’.

Education Minister Jo Palmer. Picture: Supplied

Tasmanian schools will be provided with an additional $83m in funding from the federal government so public school students can “keep up and catch up.”

The state and federal government announced they had signed a new school funding deal which would provide an additional 2.5 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard to the state’s public schools.

This funding is tied into practical reforms which will support students from early on, re-engage absent students, improve mental health and attract teachers to remote and regional areas.

The increase will start over 2025 -2026 and by 2034, the commonwealth will be providing 25 per cent or $447 million.

High School students, Generic, Picture: Getty Images

The increase equates about $83m over 10 years and is the largest new investment in Tasmanian schools from the Commonwealth.

The goal of this investment is to help Tasmanian students “catch up and keep up” finish high school, Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said.

State Education Minister Jo Palmer said the agreement was a “win for Tasmanian students”.

“By signing our original bilateral agreement with the Commonwealth last year, we were able to access funding earlier, while ensuring Tasmania would be no worse off if other states got a better deal,” she said.

The Australian Education Union Tasmania branch president David Genford said teachers have long been fighting for increased funding.

“This announcement brings an additional $83m in Commonwealth funding for Tasmanian schools, which will be life changing for students and teachers,” he said.

Mr Genford implored the federal opposition to match the deal.

“Tasmanian schools have been underfunded for too long and we need Peter Dutton to publicly commit to honour this deal,” he said.

High School students, Generic, Picture: Getty Images

“Public schools need confidence that the funding that has been announced today, is what they will receive. That’s why this deal needs bipartisan support.”

The funding is tied to the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement which includes year 1 and early years numeracy checks, accelerating the Tasmania’s Lifting Literacy plan, greater access to mental health support, re-engagement support programs, support for VET specialist teachers and incentives for remote and regional areas and also collating with First Nations peoples to increase cultural safety and responsiveness in the education system.

The agreement also removes a “loophole” where the state government can write off 4 per cent of funding on non-school based costs like capital depreciation.