THE new out-of-home area policy may eventually even out the occupancy rates of schools across Tasmania, according to Education Minister Nick McKim.
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School principals and communities will get their first look at the revised out-of-home area guidelines and map today.
It comes after Education Department occupancy figures revealed on Tuesday show that almost a quarter of the state's government schools are less than half full.
Mr McKim said yesterday the department was working through the issues initially outlined in the school viability report 18 months ago.
He said it was not realistic to expect every school would always have 100 per cent capacity.
``School occupancy rates vary for a range of reasons,'' Mr McKim said.
``We work with school communities, with school associations, to manage any issues around occupancy to help schools through any issues that arise.''
Mr McKim said schools were now taking an active role on deciding their futures through the school transition fund and announcements of other schools to take up the offer would be made shortly.
He said occupancy rates would not change his time frame to close schools because it was important to respect and consult with communities.
However, he said there was a cost involved in maintaining infrastructure, whether it was used or not.
