The Greens have promised to abolish public school levies and provide financial assistance to needy families for school supplies.
Greens Education spokesman Vica Bayley believes public school education should be “genuinely free” to alleviate the cost of living crisis many families are facing.
“Education is a basic need and a fundamental right for every Tasmanian, but parents are forking out hundreds of dollars a year to send their children to public schools,” he said.
“Schools themselves are being left with unequal funding because levies vary from school to school and administrative staff often need to chase payment from struggling families.”
Their proposed policy will offer $110 per child to concession card holders to help with back-to-school expenses like stationery, shoes and backpacks.
“With a new government and the Greens in balance of power, we’ll fight for a stronger public school system, and to deliver real cost of living relief for Tasmanian families,” he said.
The levies policy is estimated to cost around $69 million over four years, while the subsidies would amount to $10.8 million.
