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Archive for May 2016

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ALTERNATIVE BUDGET
Greens present fully costed Alternative Budget
Tas Greens website, 31 May 2016
Cassy O'ConnorGreens leader Cassy O'Connor has presented the Greens' Alternative Budget [pdf] containing more than 100 costed initiatives, including:
- reinstating Pathway Planners
- restoring teacher numbers to "pre-Hodgman levels"
- spending $6.6m over four years on student support
- delivering statewide the Safe Schools program which supports LGBTI students

- covering $8.6m of "lost TasTAFE funding" over four years
- supporting the provision of tertiary and vocational
skills in renewable energy generation and landscape restoration
- providing grants to schools to establish or expand school food gardens
- investigating a backup fibre optic cable to Tasmania
- extending pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure
- restricting high-sugar foods and drinks in schools and other public venues
-
.building resilience in young people to reduce suicide ...
Bullet Greens' Alternative Budget 2016-17 [pdf]

Bryan GreenBUDGET REPLY
Labor promises public service review
TasLabor website, 31 May 2016
Opposition leader Bryan Green said in today's budget reply speech that Labor would approach the need to fund the public service efficiently by undertaking a root and branch review, abolishing the Coordinator-General's office, the Red Tape Reduction Coordinator and Infrastructure Tasmania, and ending duplication and expensive outsourcing.
..

BUDGET REPLY
Labor promises to restore teacher numbers
TasLabor website, 31 May 2016
Michelle O'ByrneOpposition education spokesperson Michelle O'Byrne says a re-elected Labor government would:
- restore teacher numbers to "pre-Hodgman levels"
- put Pathway Planners back in schools
- give special attention to the education pathway from kindergarten to work
- enhance ICT infrastructure to support shared learning
- enrol students in their Year 12 college or high school before they actually commence high school
- add two more Child and Family Centres.
..

Bullet Free bus transport to and from local schools, Craig Farrell, Opposition transport spokesperson, 31 May 2016

SCHOOL DATA
School data released today
Tas Govt media release, 31 May 2016
TASCThe office of TASC has released data showing Tasmanian Year 12 student attainment by school and the movement of students between Year 10 and Year 12.
..

Bullet TASC data for individual schools (released 2pm, 31 May 2016)
Bullet Office of Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification website

BUDGET REPLY
Labor plan: no more urban extensions
The Mercury, 29 May 2016
Bryan GreenA Labor government would suspend the extension of urban high schools to Years 11 and 12, ease the extension in regional areas, and ensure all students are enrolled up to Year 12, under a plan to be revealed in Tuesday's budget reply speech by Opposition leader Bryan Green.
..

Bullet Extension success figures speak for themselves, Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Education and Training, 29 May 2016
Bullet Extensions evaluation needed; pathway planners would be rehired, ABC News, 29 May 2016
Bullet Halt urban rollout but continue regional extensions, Michelle O'Byrne, Opposition education spokesperson, 30 May 2016

TMAG
Sensible TMAG hours reversal
The Mercury, 29 May 2016
TMAGThe Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery will partially reverse its extraordinary decision to close on Mondays, with the museum planning to open on Mondays during the peak tourist season and on Monday public holidays (but no mention of Mondays during school holidays).
..

Bullet TMAG opening hours changes, Vanessa Goodwin, Minister for the Arts, 29 May 2016
Bullet TMAG needs to be open seven days a week for the whole year, says Lara Giddings, ABC News, 29 May 2016
Bullet Open on Mondays during school holidays, Lara Giddings, Opposition arts spokesperson, 30 May 2016

TASMANIAN BUDGET
2016-17 Budget delivered
Tas Govt, 26 May 2016
Peter Gutwein
The Treasurer, Peter Gutwein, has delivered the State Budget for 2016-17.
..

Bullet Budget fact sheets
Bullet
Education fact sheet
Bullet
Investment in education and training, Tas Govt media release, 26 May 2016
Bullet
Investment in school infrastructure, Tas Govt media release, 26 May 2016
Bullet
Funds for literacy, numeracy and anti-bullying programs, The Mercury, 26 May 2016
Bullet Surplus 'built on the back' of frontline workers, ABC News, 26 May 2016
Bullet Still 130 fewer teachers, Cassy O'Connor, Greens Leader, 26 May 2016
Bullet What people are saying about the Budget, Tas Govt media release, 27 May 2016
Bullet Hidden public service job cuts agenda, says Bryan Green, ALP media release, 27 May 2016
Bullet No new job cuts in Budget, says Peter Gutwein, Tas Govt media release, 28 May 2016
Bullet Moody's says public service job cuts are suggested by Budget, Bryan Green, Opposition leader, 28 May 2016

Northern TasmaniaTASMANIAN TEACHERS
Award for Queechy teachers
The Examiner, 26 May 2016
Five STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) teachers at Quechy High School have won the inaugural public education award for secondary STEM teaching.
..

Ballot boxes (Image: ausclassroom.com)FEDERAL ELECTION
Coalition's education agenda unclear
The Conversation (opinion by Glenn C. Savage), 24 May 2016
On the one hand, the Prime Minister floated the idea of abandoning any federal responsibility for state government school funding, yet on the other hand the Feds have issued policies that would micromanage the work of schools.
..

Performance pay for teachers (Image: TasLearn.com)FEDERAL ELECTION
Performance pay's damaging effects
The Conversation (opinion by Deborah M. Netolicky), 23 May 2016
The federal government's reform to link pay to teacher performance has no research evidence to support it, has no reliable measures and will have negative effects on the way teachers teach, a researcher and teacher argues.
..

Peter GutweinTASMANIAN BUDGET
Record spending on school upgrades
Tas Govt media release, 22 May 2016
A record $113 million will be spent on school and TAFE upgrades in the State Budget to be brought down on Thursday this week, the Treasurer, Peter Gutwein, says
..

Extending high schoolsEXTENSION TO YEARS 11 AND 12
Year 11-12 questions
The Mercury, 22 May 2016
Support is split for the plan to allow high schools to extend to Years 11 and 12 in urban areas
..

 

STATE BUDGET
Upgrade for Glenorchy Primary
Tas Govt media release, 20 May 2016
Southern TasmaniaThe tender for $4 million worth of capital works at Glenorchy Primary School has been awarded, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Elise Archer, said today
..

COMPUTER SECURITY
LinkedIn passwords stolen
Aust Govt DCA website, 19 May 2016
Computer hacker (Image: Microsoft)Following the theft of passwords and other personal data, over 100 million LinkedIn users are advised to change their passwords immediately
..

Walk to School daySTUDENT HEALTH & FITNESS
Walk Safely to School tomorrow
Tas Govt media release, 19 May 2016
Tomorrow (Friday) is Walk Safely to School Day, acting education minister Vanessa Goodwin reminds us
..

Bullet Walk Safely to School Day website

RBFEDUCATION STAFF
Know any excellent colleagues?
Tas Govt media release, 18 May 2016
Nominations for the RBF DoE Awards for Excellence are open until Sunday 5 June 2016
..

STATE BUDGET
Lenah Valley Primary gains from Budget
Tas Govt media release, 16 May 2016
Southern TasmaniaLenah Valley Primary School is to receive $3 million for capital works in Tasmania's upcoming State Budget, education minister Jeremy Rockliff said today
..

FEDERAL ELECTION
Gonski money needed for fairness
The Mercury, 16 May 2016
GonskiData showing that funding for Tasmanian government schools has increased at a slower rate than funding for private schools is all the more reason to ensure that Gonski funding continues, the AEU says
...

Bullet More funds going into advantaged sector, The Examiner, 16 May 2016

EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE
New measure of school success
SMH, 15 May 2016
NSWThe NSW Department of Education is working on a new measure of school performance that is more sophisticated than a simple reliance on NAPLAN results..
..

HealthPRINCIPAL WELFARE
Stress recognised in principal's death
ABC News, 14 May 2016
Work-related stress was accepted by Victoria's WorkCover as having contributed to the suicide of a principal whose routine handling of a parent's complaint had been taken out of his hands by the administration above him...

Early childhoodSCHOOL STARTING AGE
Earlier start will reap benefits
The Mercury (opinion), 14 May 2016
Lowering the school starting age will reduce disadvantage and raise educational attainment, education minister Jeremy Rockliff says
...

Bill ShortenFEDERAL ELECTION
$400m for STEM teachers
SMH, 13 May 2016
Labor has promised to spend $400 million to ensure teachers of maths, science and other STEM subjects are qualified to teach in those areas
...

Bullet Creating more STEM teachers is not that simple, The Conversation (opinion by Shaun Belward), 20 May 2016

Bill ShortenFEDERAL ELECTION
Support for country classrooms
ALP website, 12 May 2016
Labor says it will spend $1.8 billion in regional and country schools during 2018 and 2019
...

Bullet A Fair Go for Regional and Country Students, ALP policy statement

TOILET POLICY
US schools told to respect gender identity
BBC News, 13 May 2016
US flagSchools have been told by the Obama administration to let transgender students use whichever toilet matches the gender they identify with
...

TEACHING PROFESSION
Teacher jailed
ABC News, 12 May 2016
Legal systemA Tasmanian teacher has been jailed for having sex with three schoolboys aged 15 and 16 years
...

Bullet Jail the only appropriate sentence, The Mercury, 12 May 2016

EDUCATION REFORM
Designing their own learning
The Conversation (opinion by Megan O'Connell and Bill Lucas), 11 May 2016
The Conversation
Schools should seize opportunities to enable young students to pursue their interests, tailor their own curriculum, work at their own pace and enhance their capabilities, two reformers argue
...

N TasmaniaSTATE BUDGET
Riverside Primary gets State Budget taste
The Examiner, 10 May 2016
Riverside Primary School will receive $2.5 million in capital works from the State Budget to be handed down on Thursday 26 May..

EDUCATION SYSTEMS
Finnish success explained
The Mercury (opinion by Leena Lavonius), 10 May 2016
Finland flagThe distinguishing factor that gives the Finnish education system the edge is that it is a public education system where students are unable to buy their way into particular schools, a Mercury journalist with experience of the system writes
...

Bullet Too late to change our system [pdf], The Mercury (letter by Jean Walker), 12 May 2016

Bill ShortenFEDERAL ELECTION
$60m more for Tasmania
ABC News, 10 May 2016
A Labor government would inject $60 million more in education funds than the Coalition into Tasmania in 2018 and 2019, Opposition leader Bill Shorten says...

Bullet Seat-by-seat breakdown, ABC News, 10 May 2016
Bullet Promise of funding boost by Plibersek, The Advocate, 11 May 2016

NAPLAN
Non-pen NAPLAN testing looms
ABC News, 10 May 2016
NAPLANWith the transition to online NAPLAN testing to commence in 2017, about 10 per cent of students will be doing this week's NAPLAN tests with pens (or pencils) for the last time
...

Bullet Tassie's top NAPLAN students recognised, Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Education and Training, 9 May 2016

YEARS 11 AND 12
Call for review of colleges
The Mercury (opinion by Gail Dennett, Eleanor Ramsay, Bill Mulford and Michael Rowan), 9 May 2016
Tasmania
Four senior academics have called for a public review of the role of Tasmania's secondary colleges, and in particular their relationship with high schools...

 FEDERAL ELECTION
Election 2 July
ABC News 24, 8 May 2016
Ballot boxes (Image: ausclassroom.com)An election will be held on Saturday 2 July
following today's agreement by the Governor-General to the Prime Minister's request for a double dissolution of Federal Parliament...

ConstructionTASMANIAN SCHOOLS
$28m in school infrastructure under way
Tas Govt media release, 5 May 2016
School construction projects involving at least
nine tenders worth $28 million have commenced, education minister Jeremy Rockliff says...

FEDERAL BUDGET
MoneyBudget's Gonski failure
Tas Greens media release, 4 May 2016
The 2016 Budget has failed to deliver funding for the crucial years 5 and 6 of the needs-based Gonski reforms, Greens education spokesperson Andrea Dawkins says
..

FEDERAL BUDGET
Temporary solutions but issues ahead
The Conversation (opinion by Stewart Riddle), 4 May 2016
MoneyThe 2016 Budget's major education proposals are likely to cause problems if they are implemented, based on overseas experience and the need to rely on the states playing their part
..

FEDERAL BUDGET
Experts react
The Conversation (opinion), 4 May 2016
MoneyExperts give their views on major education components of the 2016 Federal Budget:

Bullet point The extra "needs-based" funding of $1.2 billion: Well short of Labor's promise.
Bullet point Linking teachers' pay to performance:
It won't work.
Bullet point Increased federal government involvement in setting school targets and explicit. requirements
Bullet point Early learning changes delayed.
Bullet point Higher education changes deferred.
:
..

FEDERAL BUDGET
Budget: Investing in education
Aust Govt media release, 3 May 2016
MoneyThe 2016 Federal Budget's education focuses include:
- improving student outcomes in literacy, numeracy and STEM subjects
- teacher quality
- support for students with a disability
...

Other Budget media releases include:
Bullet Jobs for young people
Bullet A new tax plan
Bullet Superannuation changes
See also:
Bullet Federal Government Budget website
Bullet Fact sheets
See particularly:
- Personal income tax [pdf]
- Superannuation system [pdf]
- Defined benefits scheme changes [pdf]
- Women and super [pdf]
- Catch-up concessional contributions [pdf]
- Spouse tax offset [pdf]
- Limiting non-concessional contributions to $500,000 [pdf]

Extending high schoolsEXTENSION TO YEARS 11 AND 12
Extension retention
Tas Govt media release, 3 May 2016
E
nrolments at the first 12 high schools extended to Years 11 and 12 increased by 57 per cent over the two-year period 2014 to 2016, education minister Jeremy Rockliff says...

Bullet Big jump in enrolments, The Mercury, 3 May 2016
Bullet High school enrolments on the rise since Year 12 extensions, ABC News, 4 May 2016

Premier's Reading ChallengeLITERACY
Premier's Reading Challenge looms
Tas Govt media release, 3 May 2016
This year's Premier's Reading Challenge runs from Tuesday 14 June to Tuesday 23 August
...


Interest rate cut to 1.75%
(ABC News, 3 May 2016)

 

WILD WEATHER
Power outages close schools
The Advocate, 3 May 2016
NW TasThe following North West schools are closed today (Tuesday 3 May) due to power outages:

Bullet point Romaine Park Primary (Burnie)
Bullet point Leighlands Christian School (Burnie and Ulverstone)
Bullet point Sacred Heart Primary (Ulverstone)
Bullet point St Brendan Shaw (Devonport)...

FEDERAL ELECTION POLICIES
AEU: Gonski abandoned
ABC News, 1 May 2016
AEUAustralian Education Union federal president Correna Haythorpe says the Coalition's $1.2 billion education policy does not extend the currently successful needs-based Gonski program
...

Bullet Full Gonski implementation is what is needed, says Tas AEU, The Mercury, 1 May 2016
Bullet Cuts would hit strugglers, says mum, The Mercury, 2 May 2016

FEDERAL ELECTION POLICIES
Pay advances tied to performance
The Mercury, 1 May 2016
Ballot boxes (Image: ausclassroom.com)
Movement up the pay scale would be tied to teachers' performance, under the Federal Government's $1.2 billion education funding package...

Bullet Student performance targeted in looming election battle, ABC News, 1 May 2016
Bullet Quality reforms, PM Malcolm Turnbull and education minister Simon Birmingham, 1 May 2016
Bullet "Cash for grades" is blaming teachers, Michelle O'Byrne, Opposition education spokesperson, 2 May 2016

 

 

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