STUDENTS in Tasmania will be $850 million worse off if Commonwealth budget cuts to education funding are approved in the Senate, according to the federal opposition.
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Opposition education spokeswoman Kate Ellis's office has revealed that of the $30 billion set to be cut nationally from education in the next decade, Tasmania will experience a shortfall of $676 million.
And without the fifth and sixth most lucrative years of Gonski funding, the state will be $177.5 million worse off.
Tasmanian Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff disputed these figures.
"Tasmanian schools have been completely abandoned by Tony Abbott," Ms Ellis said.
"The state government will simply not be able to make up this shortfall."
Ms Ellis said before the election Prime Minister Tony Abbott promised that no school would be worse off.
"Will Hodgman signed a pledge to stand up for Gonski - but just like Tony Abbott, he has let Tasmania down," Ms Ellis said.
The budget papers have revealed Tasmanian students face:
- A pared-down version of Gonski with no disability loadings.
- Loss of the Move Well, Eat Well program.
- The Tasmanian School Canteen Association will lose $45,000,
- Low socio-economic students are less likely to go to university if fees are deregulated.
Mr Rockliff said the shortfall to the state was less, totalling $347 million.
"The latest advice from treasury is the federal budget represents $264 million in cuts to public schools and another $83 million for non-govt schools out to 2024-25," he said.
"This is the advice the Premier has provided to the Prime Minister."
Mr Rockliff did not respond to questions on the total amount of Gonski funding to be cut but last week told The Examiner the state would lose $70 million without the most lucrative fifth and sixth years.