Why does Tasmania have such a poor literacy rate?

I was going to be nasty about Tasmanians, but had better not.
I was not aware of this fact.
That seems a very high figure for Australia where it is compulsory to educate children.

by Finy

It certainly does!

It is a combination of a few things.They don't have the best Internet.
They also have parents who really do not want their children to go to year 12.
Reason being:well it would seem that after yr 10, one needs to go to Campus for yrs 11 and 12.Then, the parents feel if their child was to go to uni.....they may leave Tasmania.
Only half a million people live on the Island.(as of 2012).Every second person, has reading and writing problems.
Our Government it would seem has forgotten, about this beautiful Island, being part of Australia.What a total disgrace. Stat's would have been coming in, yet 'why' wait till the horse has bolted..This is very sad news, just go's to show there is a high price to pay, when your slightly disconnected,from the mainland.!!

by jonaja

Not only beautiful Tassie but all over - I'm appalled by today's trends:
(A1) Most mid to low level employers don't have budget or training plan for employees (never if they only employ ex-yr 10 or yr 12 students) so no way for the student to improve knowledge
(1) easy availability of smartphones that (mostly) curb imagination/learning potential
(2) Kids learning tradeswork after year 10 - attracted only by scope to earn spend cash, not to make a career
(3) at slightest chance most drop-out or do not attend school
(4) And those that learn trade realize the importance of education or higher learning after they've crossed a certain age till when it's easy to learn and implement learnt ideas.
Although learning trade is not bad - not every kid that learns trade gets a good job or goes to make it big. Hence such kids don't have the facility to push their offspring to learn more before they follow a similar cycle.
Because basic language is English, Spoken language hasn't been a problem but reading/written English is shocking and with English as medium to understand other subjects - level of education is appalling.
Government should ensure that all kids irrespective of region should at a minimum be educated until year 12, method of schooling doesn't matter. And they should have better not-for-profit orgs (not Centrelink) to monitor and counsel kids from each institution to take up further studies in an area they've aptitude in, at a subsidized rate. These kids can also be involved in casual jobs in chosen vocation to earn while studying/training.
This system could then be tweaked and fine tuned as we go along. I this can have an overall positive impact on % and level of literacy in Australia.

by Manny

I'm shocked to hear this, having attended school in Tasmania. Perhaps there is a difference between public and private education?
Also with poor employment opportunities, for those not intending a university degree perhaps there is less incentive. Now living in WA, I not that there are few high schools in regional areas. Parents that can, send their children away to boarding school. Those that can have children that have lost a motivated parent, student pool . Actually I find it hard to believe the data and would like to look at it more closely

by Sam Page

You don't need to be able to read to chop down trees. It is time governments of all levels concentrated on doing what is best for the Tasmanian population. Many well educated Tasmanians move to the mainland for better opportunities. Governments need to create those opportunities on the island.

by grann

There are many well educated Tasmanians living on the island. Actually it is a hot pot of academics and intellectuals, however there are not enough opportunities for young people.

Hear! Hear! eg Australian Maritime College and the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies but isufficient opportunities for young people in general.

Simply because they are always Centuary behind & they still live in the past. They are with 'two heads' & education is the last thing on their mind.They still glorify the tales of 'Canibals' & that practice may still be alive. They are like a small,mean primitive tribe & they hate newcomers,new developments & view everything suspicious. It's a beautiful country but what a shame one can not live happily everafter there.The crime rate in Tassie is high & many a crimes are never reported cos' that's the tight knit tribal way.
One can go on & on.........
Shane

by shane