Tasmanian Principals Association president Malcolm Elliott said he was pleased with the approach Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff had taken.

He said the association was happy to support anything that helps children access higher education. 

“When the policy was first announced, it seemed the idea was that all Tasmanian high schools were going to have Years 11 and 12,” he said.

“What that has morphed into now is a build up of a number of partnerships between high schools and colleges.

“There has been some curriculum sharing, teacher sharing and resource sharing and a great deal of very positive collaborations. These have left clear pathways for children in Years 10 into 11 and 12.”

Mr Elliott said the extension allowed for the potential to tap into a variety of industries to help develop skills required to make Tasmania a stronger social and economic entity. 

Mr Elliott said he believed entities such as Launceston and Newstead colleges would not be negatively impacted. 

“There might be periods of adjustment… I’m pretty confident that all of these entities will survive, but also be able to thrive in adapted ways,” he said.  

Launceston College principal Keith Wenn said he supported the extension of schools into Years 11 and 12 significantly. 

“One of the things that we’ve been working on… has been how we’re going to ensure that support happens, whether it’s simultaneously or through a variety of mixed modes,” he said.

“It’s not like it’s them and us. It’s us working together working away to ensure those kids.”

Opposition Treasurer Scott Bacon said Labor had always support the extension of high schools in regional areas to Years 11 and 12. 

“However, the Liberal Government is under increasing pressure to explain how it plans to pay for all high schools extending to Year 12 while maintaining the college system,” he said.

He said Labor feared the government would undermine the college system and restrict the range of courses offered to students, while leaving a “massive” hole in future budgets.