Every week, we invite an MHK to write for us.

This time it’s Julie Edge, MHK for Onchan.

This article first appeared in the March 15 edition of the Isle of Man Examiner.

A last-minute ‘had enough, got to do something about this’ led to a six-week campaign to become Onchan’s first female elected MHK in 2016.

I was working on the leadership team at Ballakermeen High School and had seen so much evidence of change through ill-informed policy, professionals ignored, centralisation that was costing the taxpayer more and general damage to education on the island that I was driven to find a way to be involved as a national politician, making strategic decisions for the island.

After a whirlwind election campaign, I was elected on my own policies and personal funding of manifesto and campaign, whilst also publishing party policy that had been agreed prior to my election success.

My lifelong learning opportunities, part-funded by employers, provided me with qualifications, from studying an MBA at Henley Management Business School to Leicester University studying educational leadership, and also being in the first cohort of the UK Government School Leaders programmes for bursars/school business managers.

This was at a time when the implementation of reducing administrative tasks on teachers was implemented, so they could focus on teaching in the classroom.

My opportunities for training beyond school have supported me to develop skills centring on leadership of organisational change, re-structuring organisations and balancing budgets which is a key role for an elected politician for future strategic policy direction beyond a five-year election – I always aim for policy that can enable direction.

National politicians need to focus policy beyond elections with forward strategies for 10, 20, 30 years. This is not the way all elected politicians behave.

My first five years focused on greater transparency and supporting whistleblowers.

I believe that non-disclosure agreements should be abolished where public funds are concerned as it provides a smokescreen.

I still support many whistleblowers. I feel privileged that people still have confidence to disclose to me and I will do all I can to assist those people raising public concerns.

Why education is so important to our children’s future and our island’s economy is because economies are built from the skills of people.

Educationalists should be involved with children from early years and I am a strong believer that our early years education is key and, sadly, previous administrations moved the focus away from this important time in children’s development.

Our chief constable talks about adverse childhood experiences (ACES) and the impact on individuals’ futures!

So who are the professionals best placed and with the most contact with our children? Our teachers and schools.

We need to value their expertise and input at every stage in a child’s progress.

I am keen to see the correct children’s strategy delivered for the island with well thought-out child-first policy from nursery to support the right outcomes and success for all individuals with a STAGE NOT AGE approach to learning, which ensures support for children with additional needs is picked up early and delivered and all children policy and structures are aligned to enable that service to be delivered for the individual.

We need to ensure we are developing individuals who can contribute to our economy and, post-Covid, we have opportunities to engulf, change and support our own with the skills for the future success of our island.

In a nutshell, we need to fund education appropriately for the island.

History shows us that doing or saying unintelligent things is no barrier to political success and that many politicians are clearly in it for themselves.

However, there are plenty who really do want the best and just put up with the negative opinions they receive along the way.

So do we elect MHKs with professional skills to move the island forward or do we elect those who are only working towards their next election not making tough decisions?

I know where I stand!

In tomorrow’s Isle of Man Examiner, it’s the turn of Douglas MHK Joney Faragher to write.