However, there was marginal improvement in the attendance by teachers at some schools in the city and its environs.

Checks revealed that there was a slight improvement in attendance at St. Roses High, Campbellville and Cummings Lodge Secondary Schools.

Reports from Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam) showed that the strike was not effective there with most schools functioning normally, while in Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) it was reported that attendance by teachers was about 80%.

Some teachers told the Chronicle on Tuesday last when the strike began that while the Government is using delaying tactics, many teachers have not heeded the strike call because of disappointing experiences with strikes in the past, where they did not achieve anything and the Union did nothing to appease their plight.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education is monitoring all schools to determine those teachers who are on strike, so as to begin salary deductions as from this month-end.

Education Minister Dr. Henry Jeffrey had announced at a press conference last Tuesday that in accordance with laid down industrial practices and principles, teachers would not be paid for those days that they are on strike.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Hydar Ally told the Chronicle that the meeting that was held last Wednesday at the Labour Ministry between the representatives of the Ministry of Education and the Union did not yield any results. He said the Union held on to its position of wanting to settle salary increases for 2001-2002 by arbitration.

However, Ally said the Ministry has already made a payout last year of between fifteen to five percent and “it would be setting a dangerous precedent to go to arbitration after a payment has been made.”

He further explained that as a result of the breakdown in negotiations last year the Ministry was under pressure from teachers to make a payout because they were fearful of not receiving any increases while their counterparts in the Public Sector had already received a payout.