Dyslexia recommendations are 'practical, proportionate and achievable'

Tynwald receives report from committee and rejects CoMin changes

A long-awaited dyslexia report has been received by Tynwald and its recommendations approved.

It was the final document from the Tynwald Select Committee on Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia, and Dysgraphia.

The committee was formed following a Tynwald Petition for Redress, and its final report followed 18 months of evidence gathering involving families, educators, professionals, and government representatives.

The report had been under the spotlight in recent weeks after the Council of Ministers accepted just two of the committee's 12 recommendations.

These recommendations included that the Department of Education, Sport and Culture should incorporate a clear definition of ‘dyslexia’ and other learning differences into the Inclusive Education Policy; and report back to Tynwald on progress by December this year. 

In its response, this was amended by the Council of Ministers with the date to report back to Tynwald changed to 'October 2027'.

Last week, the Dyslexia Advocacy Group IOM warned that the opportunity for better dyslexia support in the Island’s schools could be lost as a result.

You can read more here.

DEBATE

In Tynwald yesterday (17 June) the committee asked the court to receive the report and its recommendations.

Opening this week's debate, Education, Sport and Culture Minister Daphne Caine attempted to justify the Council of Minister's decisions:

But that didn't land well with the chair of the committee Onchan MHK Rob Callister:

VOTE

Ultimately, members voted for the recommendations as put forward by the committee.

Every amendment put forward by the Council of Ministers saw divided voting, meaning that they all failed.

The only recommendation which did pass as amended was recommendation 10 - but this was amended by Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper, and simply saw the wording tweaked slightly.

As a result, the DESC will be expected to report back on a number of progress points by December this year.