Education stalled in Tasmania
Josh Willie says the Liberals have failed students and results are worse than ever
AS a teacher, I saw the untold potential of Tasmania’s kids every day.
But what if I told you a story about a child who stole lunches from other students’ lockers because he was hungry?
What if I told you about a child who slept rough under a bridge and turned up to school the next day to try to learn?
What if I told you about a child who was always late to school because he hid under the house to wait until his mum’s violent partner had left for work to make sure she was safe?
There are thousands of stories like these, and if you ask any teacher, sadly, they could tell you more.
When I left teaching to enter the Tasmanian parliament, these were some of the stories and experiences that drove me.
It is a privilege to be part of a young person’s childhood and I wanted to use my experience in the classroom and community to make a difference for all Tasmanian kids.
That’s why I have despaired at times over the past six months that the infighting in the Labor movement has taken our focus off kids like these, who most need our support.
They need us to fight for them, not among ourselves.
A recent television news story introduced us to Ahmed Omer from Cosgrove High School.
Ahmed is an Ethiopian refugee. He came to Hobart with very little English and a story of exceptional hardship.
Today he is school captain.
I want to thank Cosgrove High School for reminding us of the power of education.
It’s people like Ahmed who have turned my despair into determination that Labor will refocus and fight for what is important – the people who need a Labor government to fight for them.
One thing I know the Labor Party will always agree on is our desire to see Tasmanians live a better life.
And, the best chance we have to achieve that is through education.
Education, as an issue, may not grab attention or sell newspapers, but it changes lives. That is a fact.
But, instead of taking us forward and giving all Tasmanian kids the start in life they deserve, seven years of Liberal government has simply taken us backwards.
The latest NAPLAN data shows Tasmania’s results are the worst of any state across every age group in reading, the second worst in every age group in writing, the worst in every age group in spelling, the worst in every age group in grammar and punctuation, and the worst in years 5, 7 and 9 in numeracy.
As many passionate educators understand, education is the key to solving many of the challenges we face as a community.
The pandemic has really exposed inequality in our community.
Imagine navigating the pandemic without the capacity to read information.
Imagine not having the digital skills to access online schooling or vaccine information because you cannot afford the internet.
Rather than making motherhood statements about the importance of education, this government needs to make real changes to give everyone’s kids the opportunity to achieve their full potential and live fulfilling lives.
With our relatively small education system, Tasmania could turn this around within 10 years but if we are to do so, we must break down the barriers of inequality and poverty.
To do so will not only give our kids a better start in life, it will also help tackle the poorer health outcomes linked to lower socioeconomic status.
By dismantling these barriers, and giving Tasmania’s kids the chance to learn from highly skilled and invested teachers, the whole community benefits.
There are really smart kids in every community and we are all the poorer for not having their potential realised.
In 1856, while opening the first Tasmanian Parliament, Sir Henry Edward Fox Young reflected on the issues that should be a priority, including public education and the establishment of new schools.
It seems some things never change unless we want them to.
It is time for us to unite to fight for this change and use the power of education to give our kids a bright future – kids like Ahmed who make me more determined than ever to take up that fight.