The Liberal Government must listen to school staff, parents and education stakeholders so that learning conditions can drastically improve for future generations of students.
On Wednesday, public schools across the state will temporarily close as part of teacher and support staff stop-work action.
Our hardworking teachers and support staff have not taken this decision lightly.
The Minister's offer last Friday demonstrates a clear lack of respect towards our educators who desperately want to better their conditions so that they can lift the learning outcomes of Tasmanian children.
This isn't just about money; our educators are close to burnout. This is about working conditions, attracting and retaining teachers, and preparing our students for the future.
While the Government is prepared to spend $750 million on a Hobart stadium, the state's NAPLAN results are the worst they have ever been with too many Tasmanian children struggling with reading, writing and numeracy.
Some of this money would be better spent supporting educators so our children can achieve not only the expected standards in literacy and numeracy but also engage in their learning.
Improving our falling education standards is one of the best investments we could make in the future of our economy - but instead schools are closing because this government can't even get the basics right.
It is time the Liberal Government got its priorities right and stopped failing our children and hardworking educators.
Josh Willie MLC
Shadow Minister for Education and Early Years
