Reverse the Tasmanian eSchool Staff Cuts

To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House, in Parliament assembled. The Petition of the undersigned Residents of Tasmania: Draws the attention of the House to the 8 FTE staff reduction made to the Tasmanian eSchool by the Department of Education in 2016 without consultation with parents and students of the Tasmanian eSchool. The proposed staff cuts will: (a) Adversely impact the innovative programs currently being provided to students with disability on the Northern Campus; (b) Reduce the course offerings to students attending the Tasmanian eSchool; (c) Reduce the very successful one on one programs and on campus courses offered to students with disability on the Northern Campus; (d) Further limit access to the Tasmanian eSchool by making mainstream schools to provide flexible courses to students with disability when they are not properly resourced or trained to do so. This will result in students with disability being further disengaged from the Tasmanian education system and the stifling of innovative education programs currently offered on the eSchool's Northern Campus. Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to: (1) Acknowledge the current innovation and support provided to students with disability on the Northern Campus of the Tasmanian eSchool; (2) Call on the Minister for Education to immediately reverse the 2016 Tasmanian eSchool staffing cuts.