Full-day orientation days for year 10 students will not go ahead this year following instruction from the Department of Education. 

A letter believed to have been sent to all Northern high school principals said teachers were informed that the usual full-day visits to Launceston and Newstead Colleges would not be happening in 2016.  

“Unfortunately, due to [Department of Education] requirements [regarding] college student attendence, we are unable to offer whole day transition/orientation this year,” the letter said. 

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the government recognised that a single orientation day was not the most effective means of supporting the transition from year 10 to 11 for students.

Students could still take part in smaller groups visits to the colleges, college teachers would visit schools across the year and course selection would be supported.

Former principal Dennis Betts said the decision was a strange approach from a government committed to improving and developing retention.

“I would have thought we would want to encourage students to continue their education in whatever environment is appropriate from their perspective,” he said. 

Opposition education spokeswoman Michelle O’Byrne said she was “appalled” by the government’s decision. 

Despite the cut of whole day orientation days, Mr Rockliff said that all colleges were developing strong partnerships with their associate high schools. 

While the changes to the orientation days had already been decided for 2016, Mr Rockliff said both Launceston and Newstead Colleges were working closely with high schools to ensure students were successfully transitioned.

Ms O’Byrne said the decision would mean students would not have an understanding of what colleges can offer. 

“This is a terrible attack on colleges and I think it will only damage our educational outcomes in Tasmania,” Ms O’Byrne said.