HIGH HOPES

Hundreds of parents demand new co-ed school

THE State Government remains noncommittal on a new Hobart co-educational public high school, as a parents’ group releases a discussion paper outlining the cost of crisscrossing town for education.

The Hobart High Community group, which is lobbying for a Hobart high school, estimates the “tax” on parents and the community includes around $4608 in bus fares over four years for two students, increased Hobart traffic and $20m a year in taxpayer-funded bus subsidies for students who attend out-of-area schools.

The State Government spent $300,000 on an investigation into a new high school, but has repeatedly refused to release the findings. The department also recently refused a Right to Information request.

“What’s the State Government trying to hide? Seeing the pros and cons of a central Hobart high school is clearly in the public interest, not least because taxpayers paid for the study in the first place,” independent Clark MHR Andrew Wilkie said.

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff would not rule anything in or out regarding the proposed new school.

THE state government remains noncommittal on a new Hobart coeducational public high school, as a parents’ group releases a discussion paper outlining the cost of crisscrossing town for education.

The Hobart High Community Group, which is lobbying for a Hobart high school, estimates the “tax” on parents and the community includes about $4608 in bus fares over four years for two students, increased Hobart traffic and $20m a year in taxpayer-funded bus subsidies for students who attend out-of-area schools.

“The state government needs to urgently and strategically address the changing education needs of Hobart and provide the option of a public high school coeducation. Our group requests that the government release details on its research and strategies; and has a dialogue with the community and key stakeholders to address the urgent issue,” the discussion paper says.

Key points from the detailed discussion paper, which draws on publicly available data such as enrolment figures, include:

TAROONA, in the Kingborough municipality, is overflowing with about 1110 students on 2019 figures. The government is investing $5m in upgrades at Taroona.

COSGROVE High School, in the Glenorchy municipality, has fewer than 200 students. The government plans to invest $20m in upgrades. ENROLMENTS at single-sex Hobart schools Ogilvie and New Town are in decline. Ogilvie has 626 students and New Town 698.

The state government spent $300,000 on an investigation into a new high school, but has repeatedly refused to release the findings.

The department also recently refused a Right to Information request from independent Clark MHR Andrew Wilkie.

The refusal listed 34 documents that would not be released but that showed there had been numerous meetings, presentations, reports and decisions.

“Seeing the pros and cons of a central Hobart high school is clearly in the public interest, not least because taxpayers paid for the study in the first place,” Mr Wilkie said.

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff would not rule anything in or out regarding a new school.

“There are a number of other quality high schools located closer to the greater Hobart city area that have the capacity for more students,” Mr Rockliff said.