QUICK FACTS
- We have increased school funding year on year, delivering a 64 per cent increase in spending per public school student since 2014
- 1100 students are now attending year 11 and 12 at their local high school after we extended all secondary and combined schools
- Since 2014 we have recruited an extra 1000 full time education staff
- Apparent retention rates for Years 10 to 12 in government schools has increased by 6 per cent under the Tasmanian Liberal Government – we are now above the national average
- Implemented the Year 1 phonics check in all Government primary schools
- Delivering evidence based structured literacy in 25 per cent of all Government primary schools in 2024, increasing to 100 per cent by 2026
Under our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will:
- Invest $188 million to deliver major upgrades for 15 schools.
- Build the new North-West Support School in Devonport and upgrade the Burnie North-West Support School.
- Keep kids active with upgraded school playgrounds and sports courts.
- Invest $3 million to extend structured literacy, including phonics, to Years 3 to 6.
- Deliver decodable readers for all primary schools, libraries and mobile libraries.
- Provide Square Pegs with $800,000 to support students with dyslexia.
- More funding for Young Leaders of Tasmania.
- Recruit an extra 25 full time equivalent (FTE) maths and science teachers.
- Extend remote teacher incentives to hard-to-staff schools.
- Build or upgrade homes for 25 teachers in rural and remote communities.
An important part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future is prioritising the essential services Tasmania needs, to develop stronger communities and enhance our regions.
We recognise that education is the most powerful driver for improving economic and social outcomes in Tasmania, including health, life expectancy, happiness and productivity.
Continue our school building blitz by investing $188 million to deliver major upgrades for 15 schools
Since 2014, the Liberal Government has provided record infrastructure funding to deliver 73 school upgrades across the State.
We are also building and upgrading:
- The new $74 million Brighton High school, which will accommodate 600 students.
- The new $34 million new Legana Primary School delivering a modern school for up to 350 students.
- The new $27.48 million Sorell School, which will be completed this year, including a new Child and Family Learning Centre.
- Major upgrades are underway at Montello Primary School, Cambridge Primary School, Lauderdale Primary School and Exeter High School.
We know there are more schools that need major upgrades and a re-elected majority Liberal Government will commit an additional $188 million over six years for a School Building Blitz.
This commitment will build on our $8.9 billion investment into education and skills, by delivering major upgrades at:
- Burnie Primary School
- Campbell Town District High School
- Clarence High School
- Deloraine High School
- Dodges Ferry Primary School
- Havenview Primary School
- JRLF East Derwent Primary School
- Lindisfarne North Primary School
- Mowbray Heights Primary School
- Port Dalrymple School
- Princes Street Primary School
- Ringarooma Primary School
- Risdon Vale Primary School
- Rosetta Primary School
- South George Town Primary School
Commit $45 million to build the new North-West Support School in Devonport and upgrade the North-West Support School in Burnie
The Tasmanian Liberals want to ensure that students with a disability have access to the best, modern facilities that cater to their diverse needs. This is why we invested $8.25 million to redevelop the Southern Support School, which was completed in 2022.
A re-elected majority Liberal government will commit an additional $45 million to construct a brand-new purpose-built North-West support school on a new site in Devonport and deliver significant upgrades to the North-West Support School in Burnie.
This funding is on top of the $17.15 million already committed to the North-West Support School by the Tasmanian Liberal Government.
The redevelopment will provide new purpose-built learning facilities for students and staff, including an onsite hydrotherapy pool and additional space to meet growing enrolments.
Commit $10 million to playground and sports court upgrades in schools
Physical activity and sport is essential for healthy development and learning.
Across our schools and Child and Family Learning Centres, there are about 700 playgrounds and 500 sports courts, with around 20 per cent of these requiring an upgrade.
To make sure our children keep healthy and active, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will commit $10 million over four years to deliver upgrades to playgrounds and sports courts at schools across the State for the benefit of students and local communities.
Invest $3 million to extend structured literacy - including phonics - to all Government primary school students in Years 3 to 6
An important part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future is to lift literacy outcomes for all students.
We know that 95 per cent of all children will learn to read, write and spell if we implement evidence based structured literacy in all schools, which includes phonics.
This is why the Tasmanian Liberal Government committed to structured literacy for all K to Year 2 students in government primary schools by 2026 and the Year 1 Phonics Check for all Year 1 students.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will invest an additional $3 million to extend structured literacy to all children in Years 3 to 6 at government primary schools by 2026.
This additional investment will allow schools to purchase programs that the Australian Education Research Organisation deems evidence-based and consistent with a structured literacy approach.
To further improve student outcomes, all government primary schools will be required to spend at least one hour every day on structured literacy for Years Prep to 6.
Deliver decodable readers for all primary schools, libraries and mobile libraries
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will invest $800,000 to ensure decodable readers are available in all schools, libraries and mobile libraries.
These readers help children to “sound out” the words, rather than guess, improving their phonics skills and reading.
Provide Square Pegs with partial base funding of $800,000 to support students with dyslexia
Square Pegs has provided support to families, children and young people with dyslexia and related learning differences for over 10 years.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will commit $800,000 over four years to provide Square Pegs with partial base funding for the first time.
More funding for Young Leaders of Tasmania
Young Leaders of Tasmania (YLOT) commenced under the Liberal Government in 2018 and since then has grown significantly, helping young Tasmanians of all abilities to reach their full potential.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will increase our support for YLOT by committing $310,000 per year for the next five years, to extend their school buddy program state-wide.
This funding will help to ensure that our youth are educated and aware of their peers living with disability and young people living with disability feel accepted and included in their communities.
Recruit an additional 25 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) maths and science teachers
We know that high quality teaching leads to better student outcomes.
Since our election in 2014, the Liberals have employed more than 1000 full-time additional education staff, including 435 Teachers and 421 Teaching Assistants, lowering our teacher vacancy rate to below one per cent.
Under our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will recruit an extra 25 FTE maths and science teachers.
Extend remote teacher incentives to hard-to-staff schools
We currently offer financial incentives for teachers who commit to working in remote areas. We know that there are other areas of the State that find it difficult to attract and retain high-quality education staff.
To ensure our regional and remote schools can compete with schools that are closer to our major cities, a re-elected Liberal Government will extend the remote teacher incentives to hard-to-staff locations. This is a flexible approach designed to target areas that most need teachers.
These incentives, conditional on working in these schools for two years, will include a settling in payment of $5,000 upon commencement of employment, plus additional payments for every year of service starting at $2,759 and increasing to a maximum $5,523 at Year 6.
This investment will guarantee that our rural and remote areas have the high-quality teachers they need and deserve.
Invest $15 million to build or upgrade housing for 25 teachers in our rural and remote communities, including Flinders Island, King Island and the West Coast
There are 137 residential properties for teachers across the State, many of which are dated and not meeting the needs of current principals and teachers.
To ensure we can continue to attract high quality teaching staff to our remote and regionals areas and they stay long-term, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will invest $15 million to re-build or upgrade teacher housing, including on Flinders Island, King Island, Smithton and the North-East.
Net Cost: $138.47 million including $129.13 million in capital infrastructure over four years