Viability concerns for Newstead College have again been raised after dwindling teacher numbers have been revealed.
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The data, provided to Opposition Education spokesman Josh Wyllie during a question on notice taken during budget estimates, shows Newstead College teacher numbers have dropped from 57 in 2017 to 46 in 2019.
The teacher numbers correlate with dwindling enrolment figures, raised in the Parliament in March by Windermere Independent member Ivan Dean.
Newstead College had 704 enrolments in 2017, 639 enrolments in 2018, and a headcount of 513 students this year. This is a mixture of full-time students and students who attend the college for particular subjects.
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The college's main feeder schools, Queechy and Brooks high schools, will receive year 11 subjects in 2021 and have both year levels by 2022.
Another feeder school, Kings Meadows High School, has already completed its extension program. Mr Wyllie said the new teacher statistics raised serious concerns over viability of the school.
"Over the last few years the college has experienced dwindling enrolments and now we see the number of teachers also on a steep decline," Mr Willie said.
Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff has previously stated his support for the role colleges play in Tasmania despite the introduction of extension for high schools to years 11 and 12.
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"As has always been the case staffing levels are always delivered to meet student numbers," he said.
Mr Rockliff said TCE attainment had increased by more than 10 per cent since the Liberals came into government and the increase was a result of the extension school policy.
There are now 43 schools in Tasmania that have extended to years 11 and 12 with another four schools preparing to do so in 2020.
In addition, in 2020, it will become mandatory for all young people to stay in school until they have turned 18 years old.
"Despite this success due to positive collaboration across schools and colleges, Labor keep prioritising politics above student outcomes," Mr Rockliff said.
"The real question is for Labor to answer - are they going to rip away 11-12 resources from high schools and therefore access to further education. Our high school communities have a right to know where Labor stands."
Mr Wyllie said the reduction in teachers would impact further on the school's enrolments.
"This [data] means a loss of specialist teachers which would impact the courses that make Newstead College such a popular option for some students," he said.
"Newstead isn't the only college in Tasmania experiencing a decline in enrolments and Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff must explain how these figures fit with its promise to ensure colleges remain viable under its extension school policy."
Newstead College is a popular school for students with a disability.