Following negotiations over the past four weeks between education unions and the Department of Education, Sport and Culture (DESC), a new a proposal has been tabled to resolve the dispute.

Education professionals on the Isle of Man were forced to take industrial action earlier this year as DESC failed to resolve a long-standing dispute over pay. A damning independent review of DESC at the end of September revealed cultural issues were the root cause of the fractured relationship between the department and schools.

Rob Kelsall, national secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, which represents members in every school on the Isle of Man, said:

“After weeks of intensive negotiations and constructive talks with DESC, we are pleased that we have now received a formal proposal which NAHT will put to our members on the Isle of Man. The proposal not only goes some way in redressing the injustice of the 2018/19 pay award but crucially addresses a range of issues not linked to pay which we believe will help to re-set the relationship between the department and schools. School Leaders have been striving to ensure the best quality of education for children and young people on the Isle of Man. We welcome the new approach of the Interim Chief Executive and his team and believe this bodes well for the future.”