A teachers’ union wants candidates in the general election to say they’ll back more investment in education.

The NASUWT has launched a campaign calling for candidates to publically commit to investment in an education system which will support all children and young people in the Isle of Man to achieve their best.

Dr Patrick Roach, general gecretary of the NASUWT, said: ’The general election will be a key defining moment for public services and the education system in the Isle of Man.

’This election is an opportunity to address the legacy of the last decade which has seen the value of teachers’ pay and pensions cut, whilst teacher morale has been undermined as a result of spiralling workload pressures.’

The relationship between the unions and the Department of Education, Sport and Culture has been fraught during a long-running dispute.

’Teachers have given their all, they have met the challenge of ensuring continuity of learning and support for pupils during the pandemic, and it is now time for politicians to demonstrate their support for the teaching profession,’ Dr Roach said.

’Investing in the teaching profession is vital to education recovery and ensuring that current and future cohorts of teachers are not forced off the island to seek work elsewhere.’

He added that politicians must also keep their promises too.

’The failure to deliver the promised Education Act has further damaged teacher morale and failed to deliver on vitally needed reforms relating to pupil behaviour, the curriculum and support for pupils with additional needs,’ he said.

’We are urging voters to use the opportunity of this election to send a strong message to politicians that they need to take action to invest in teachers and provide children and young people with the education system they deserve.’

The general election is on September 23.

All 24 seats in the House of Keys are up for grabs.

Isle of Man Newspapers has asked all candidates a series of questions for specials to appear in the Examiner on September 14 (for constituencies from Ayre and Michael to Douglas East, alphabetically) and Manx Independent on September 16 (for the remaining constituencies).