EDUCATION Minister Nick McKim will meet federal Education Minister Christopher Pyne today to seek a "rock-solid" guarantee that Tasmania will not be worse off under proposed changes to the Better Schools funding model.
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However, opposition education spokesman Michael Ferguson is adamant that Mr Pyne will stick to his recent comments that Tasmania would receive its share of funding as predetermined before the federal election.
The majority of states and educators around the country have voiced their anger at Mr Pyne and the Liberal government since it was revealed on Monday that he would seek to renegotiate the funding model agreements beyond 2014.
This, he said, was due to $1.2 billion withdrawn from the education budget by the former federal Labor government.
Mr McKim will join other education ministers in Sydney for the meeting that will pit New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania against Mr Pyne.
Yesterday Mr McKim said Mr Pyne's refusal to offer a guarantee made a mockery of opposition leader Will Hodgman's claim that Tasmania's funding would not decrease.
"Mr Hodgman claims the federal Coalition has given him guarantees that Tasmania won't be worse off," Mr McKim said.
"If that mythical guarantee really exists, why won't Mr Pyre repeat it on the record in the media, instead of telling teachers, parents and students they'll have to wait months for the answers?"
Mr Ferguson said Mr Pyne has been clear that Tasmania's funding would remain unchanged.
"What we will do is work co-operatively with the federal government to make sure that funding is delivered as promised," Mr Ferguson said.
He said Mr McKim should start working constructively with the federal government.