Answers to Questions

Learning Plus Tutoring Program

8 The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (8 September 2023).

1. Will the government continue the work previously underway as part of the Department for Education's Learning Plus Tutoring Program?

2. What initiatives are currently underway as part of the strategy, and will they be supported in an ongoing manner?

The Hon. B.I. BOYER (Wright—Minister for Education, Training and Skills): I have been advised of the following:

The Learning+ program commenced in 2021 and was commissioned as an additional learning support to mitigate the disruptions caused by COVID-19.

Learning+ was facilitated in 2021 and 2022 as a pilot program. An independent evaluation was undertaken to determine the impact of this investment. The evaluation focused on student achievement and self-efficacy of the two new pilot groups was finalised in March 2023, and the department undertook further data analysis to verify its understanding of the pilot outcomes.

Both these evaluations showed only small increases in mathematics achievements.

As such the department made the decision to not continue the Learning+ program given its view of return on investment.