Tas: Liberals education plan the first major election policy

AAP General News (Australia)
02-19-2006
Tas: Liberals education plan the first major election policy

HOBART, Feb 19 AAP - The Tasmanian opposition has pledged to spend an extra $83 million
over four years to improve the state's education and training.

In the first major policy announcement ahead of the March 18 election, opposition leader
Rene Hidding today pledged to raise the standard of education throughout Tasmania.

Speaking in Launceston in the electorate of Bass, Mr Hidding said education standards
had declined after seven years' of Labor government.

"(The Labor government) has presided over declining education standards, overcrowded
classrooms and thousands of Tasmanian students falling through gaps," he said.

Under their education and training policy, the Liberals plan to reduce student numbers
in prep and grade one class sizes to 20. Classes from grades two to six will be capped
at 25.

Mr Hidding said an extra 202 teachers would be employed and $5 million would be provided
over five years to build more classrooms.

"The Lennon Labor government has been so interested in its special deals for special
mates that it has allowed education standards to fall and failed to get it right for all
Tasmanians," Mr Hidding said.

The education policy plans to employ 54 new early learning specialist teachers and
establish a $5 million university scholarship program.

It will also deliver an additional $2.5 million over four years to assist students
with special needs in government schools.

AAP rgr/arb/jlw

KEYWORD: POLLTAS EDUCATION

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