Change for failing Tas schooling: govt

The Tasmanian government has tabled in parliament its once-in-a-generation amendment to the state's Education Act, including a voluntary lowering of the school starting age to four-and-a-half-years.

Premier Will Hodgman on Wednesday said the changes aim to improve education outcomes for the island state which has in the past recorded some of Australia's worst literacy, numeracy and school completion rates.

"We can't keep doing the same things or we will keep getting the same results and they are not good enough - we have to do things differently," he said, with debate on the Bill due to start on Thursday.