Laws governing the delivery of education are to be updated as the Government looks to the Island’s future economic and social needs.

The Department of Education and Children will progress a new Education Bill and hopes it will become law by the start of the 2018/19 academic year.

The announcement from Graham Cregeen MHK, Minister for Education and Children, is in line with the Programme for Government’s commitment to provide an education system fit for the future.

‘The Education Act 2001 underpins all that we do in the Department but, over the last 16 years, there have been significant changes in society and in the way education is delivered and it no longer supports what we need to achieve,’ the Minister said.

‘There are significant areas which need to be considered as they are now outdated and, in some cases, need to be brought into line with other jurisdictions.

‘These areas include the information and reports provided to parents, school discipline, provision of higher and further education and the education of pupils with special needs.’

A draft Bill will go out to public consultation over the summer and the legislation will be considered by the branches of Tynwald early in 2018.

Schools and professional associations are already being consulted on the Bill’s contents.