an advisory and monitoring board which reports to the Minister for Education. In 2012 there were 660 homeschooling students registered in Tasmania, giving Tasmania the highest ratio of homeschooled students to students in traditional schools (6.4 per 1000 children) in Australia. Tertiary education The largest public education institution in Tasmania is the University of Tasmania, with major campuses at Newnham (in Launceston) and Sandy Bay (in Hobart), along with a north-west centre in Burnie. TasTAFE (formerly known as TAFE Tasmania) also offers Tertiary qualifications across multiple locations within Tasmania. School terms The academic year in Tasmania generally runs from the beginning of February until mid-December for primary and secondary schools, and for colleges exams start early in November. Tasmanian schools operate on a four-term basis. Schools are closed for the Tasmanian public holidays. See also List of schools in Tasmania Department of Education (Tasmania) Education in Australia References External links Tasmanian Department of Education