New research centre to tackle Tasmania's poor school retention rates
The University of Tasmania (UTAS) will open a new education research centre to tackle the state's poor retention rates as part of a formal partnership with the Tasmanian Government.
The Peter Underwood Centre for Economic Attainment, named after the late governor, will be funded by the State Government, the University of Tasmania and philanthropic donations.
Run from UTAS, the centre will investigate the best ways to keep children in school longer and improve teaching methods.
As well as researching barriers to education aspiration and attainment, the centre will also organise activities to raise the value placed on education in the community, targeting areas of disadvantage.
The State Opposition suggested a similar partnership with the university in its budget reply last year in a bid to take the politics out of education.
University vice-chancellor Professor Peter Rathjen said the creation of the centre was not "in and of itself an end".
"Addressing the issues which are holding Tasmanian children back will take many years to improve," he said in a statement.
He said the state's "disappointing" educational outcomes reflected the influence of economic circumstances, geographic isolation and the educational standards of older generations.
Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said there would be a long-term effort to cultivate educational aspirations in disadvantaged communities.
"The benefits of this may well not be seen in the very short term but I know that in 30 years' time we'll look back to this day as a key factor in lifting education and lifting Tasmania," he said.
The Education Union claimed funds for the centre had been redirected from other parts of the Education Department.
Spokesman Terry Polglase said the $4.2 million the State Government had contributed may have come out of funding that was supposed to be for Gonski programs.
"We certainly wouldn't want it to be coming out of the Education Department budget, but it obviously is, and even worse now this seems to be coming out of Gonski funding," he said.
Economist Saul Eslake said the current system was not working.
"Tasmania's experience over decades suggest that simply spending more money on more teachers is not the right way to go," he said.
Jenny Eddington, from State School Parents and Friends, said the centre must consult existing bodies if it wanted to change community attitudes.
"Parents, carers and the community play a vital role in this area, and we would certainly like to be involved," she said.
"It would be our hope that this will be not a top-down structure but one that really gets out and listens."
A chairperson will be appointed soon.
