Greens questions in Estimates have confirmed the Liberals’ plans to axe jobs in education does not exempt jobs in schools. This will have real impacts on the education Tasmania’s young people receive.
Under Greens’ questioning in Estimates, DECYP confirmed admin, support staff, data analytics, finance, HR, IT, policy and project roles are all on the chopping block as part of the Liberals’ sweeping cuts to the public service.
Despite the Liberals’ assurances “frontline” education won’t be impacted, it was revealed that jobs in schools are on the line.
The Liberal Government’s distinction between “back line” and “front line” staff is farcical. Ask any teacher, they’ll tell you everyone who works in our schools plays a vital role in making sure young people get the education they need.
Without data analysts, students and teachers wouldn’t have timetables which tell them where to go when. Without finance and HR, teachers wouldn’t get paid. Without IT, students and staff wouldn’t be able to access the educational programs they need online.
Teachers can’t do it all – they need support staff. Any cuts are just going to make teachers’ workloads even worse. That has real impacts on the quality of education they can provide to Tasmanian young people.
The Liberals had other options, but they’ve chosen to cut $230 million and 150 jobs from DECYP to improve the budget bottom line. It will be teachers and our kids who will be left to pick up the pieces of this government’s budget cuts.
