2024-03-16
Cecily Rosol | Lead Candidate for Bass
The Greens are pushing for the Liberals and Labor to get behind a plan to fund 30 hours of free tutoring for each student who falls below the national standard in reading, writing, spelling, or maths.
“In a community that values fairness, it is unacceptable that the biggest determinant of a child’s education performance is their socioeconomic status.
“Every young Tasmanian deserves access to a high-quality public education that supports them to reach their potential, and provides the skills and knowledge they need for the future.
“Many students across the board are still struggling from the fall-out of COVID-19 related school disruptions - and we know if you start behind, or if you fall behind, it’s hard to catch up.
“Achievement should not be determined by a student’s address or the wealth of their parents and carers, but right now in Tasmania, it is.
“If tutoring is only afforded to the kids who have rich parents, kids that really need help are still left out - first by an underfunded public education system with inadequate support, and secondly by a private tutoring industry they can’t financially access.
“That’s why in the balance of power the Greens will fight for the government to fund 30 hours of free tutoring for each student who falls below the national standard in reading, writing, spelling, or maths.
“This should be a no-brainer for Labor to get behind. The initiative is notionally backed by Federal Education Minister Jason Clare, who last year announced support for free tutoring at school for students struggling in maths and English.”