Pathway planners call

PATHWAY planners should be redeployed in Tasmania’s public schools to help lift the state’s attendance rates, Labor says.

An Auditor-General report released this week showed Tasmania lagged behind the national average in school attendance with an average rate of 88 per cent between 2014 and 2017.

The attendance level — measuring how many students attended at least 90 per cent of school days — dropped two percentage points in the same period to 63 per cent.

Opposition education spokesman Josh Willie said yesterday a more engaging curriculum, better use of attendance data and the reintroduction of pathway planners would encourage a greater number of high school students to go to class.

He said action was needed to help public school students — particularly those from a disadvantaged background.

“We are talking about our future prosperity as a state,” Mr Willie said. “We need to unlock that.” Labor went to last year’s state election pledging to reintroduce pathway planners. The positions were cut entirely under the Liberals in 2014 but the former Labor government had previously limited their reach to Year 10 students only.

The Government this week pointed to initiatives as working to lift school attendance, including its Child and Student Wellbeing Strategy, its free preschool program and the rollout of extension schools.

The Government said it would take the Auditor-General’s 22 recommendations “into consideration”.

“My Education is a Kindergarten to Year 12 approach to career and life planning that will support students to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to successfully plan and make informed choices for their future,’’ a government spokesman said.

“Our approach to career and life planning is aligned to the Department of Education’s Learners First: Every Learner, Every Day Goal of Access, Participation and Engagement — to ensure everyone is participating and engaged in learning and able to pursue life opportunities.”