Secondary school teachers on the Island are to be exempt from the need to have a work permit on the Isle of Man.

They join a small group of professionals such as doctors and dentists who also don't need a work permit before starting work on the Island.

The move has been taken after the Department of Education and Children highlighted growing recruitment difficulties.

Evidence had been shown to the Department of Economic Development which showed that when faced with the offer of a certain job in England or Wales where no work permit was required . . . or an offer for a job on the Island which was subject to the granting of a permit . . . well qualified candidates were taking the secure offer.

The problem has been impacting on secondary schools in particular because of a shortage of specialists in certain areas.. . . and the Island's secondary schools have been struggling to recruit the teachers they required.

The same problems hasn't been experienced in primary schools.

In Tynwald this morning, Economic Development Minister John Shimmin brought forward the Control of Employment (Secondary School Teachers) Order 2013 which after a short debate was passed with just one vote against in the House of Keys and unanimously by Legislative Council