LABOR claims cuts to the Education Department are driving class sizes up across Northern schools. Premier Will Hodgman on Monday told ABC Radio that class sizes across the state would remain below its target of 25 pupils. Labor education spokeswoman Michelle O’Byrne yesterday seized on his comments, listing schools with classes of 30 or more students. Ms O’Byrne told Parliament that Brooks High School in Launceston had classes of 30 in grades 7, 8, 9 and 10. She said Princes Street Primary had two classes of 30, while Devonport High School and Mountain Heights School at Queenstown also had classes of 30 or more. Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said Mr Hodgman was referring to average class sizes. ‘‘I understand there are class sizes above the 25, but the average over the state will be below that 25 target,’’ Mr Rockliff told Parliament. ‘‘It is important to remember that, as is the case every year, class sizes fluctuate with enrolments.’’ Ms O’Byrne argued that the minister was employing ‘‘smoke and mirror’’ tactics to cover up ballooning class sizes, accusing the government of undermining the system by slashing about 180 teaching positions. ‘‘Mr Rockliff may try to defend the Premier’s dishonesty by clinging to averages but that is cold comfort to parents with children in cramped classes,’’ Ms O’Byrne said. Mr Rockliff yesterday met school parents outside Parliament, who presented postcards pleading with him not to cut teacher numbers or programs. Margie Law, the mother of a primary school pupil, said schools that had resisted boosting class sizes this year were forced to shed programs instead. ‘‘We’ve lost literacy programs, numeracy programs, music, band, camps, sport,’’ Ms Law said. ‘‘They [students] will notice a difference as they don’t have as much support for literacy and numeracy, as they don’t have as much support for sport and PE and language.’’ Mr Rockliff said he would have preferred not to make the budget cuts and vowed to ensure the measures had a minimal impact on learning outcomes.
Hobart mother Theresa O’Leary expresses her concern over class sizes to Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff.
LABOR claims cuts to the Education Department are driving class sizes up across Northern schools.
Premier Will Hodgman on Monday told ABC Radio that class sizes across the state would remain below its target of 25 pupils.
Labor education spokeswoman Michelle O’Byrne yesterday seized on his comments, listing schools with classes of 30 or more students.
Ms O’Byrne told Parliament that Brooks High School in Launceston had classes of 30 in grades 7, 8, 9 and 10.
She said Princes Street Primary had two classes of 30, while Devonport High School and Mountain Heights School at Queenstown also had classes of 30 or more.
Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said Mr Hodgman was referring to average class sizes.
‘‘I understand there are class sizes above the 25, but the average over the state will be below that 25 target,’’ Mr Rockliff told Parliament.
‘‘It is important to remember that, as is the case every year, class sizes fluctuate with enrolments.’’
Ms O’Byrne argued that the minister was employing ‘‘smoke and mirror’’ tactics to cover up ballooning class sizes, accusing the government of undermining the system by slashing about 180 teaching positions.
‘‘Mr Rockliff may try to defend the Premier’s dishonesty by clinging to averages but that is cold comfort to parents with children in cramped classes,’’ Ms O’Byrne said.
Mr Rockliff yesterday met school parents outside Parliament, who presented postcards pleading with him not to cut teacher numbers or programs.
Margie Law, the mother of a primary school pupil, said schools that had resisted boosting class sizes this year were forced to shed programs instead.
‘‘We’ve lost literacy programs, numeracy programs, music, band, camps, sport,’’ Ms Law said.
‘‘They [students] will notice a difference as they don’t have as much support for literacy and numeracy, as they don’t have as much support for sport and PE and language.’’
Mr Rockliff said he would have preferred not to make the budget cuts and vowed to ensure the measures had a minimal impact on learning outcomes.
