At his weekly news conference, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon said: "The Office of the President views with increasing concern the worsening industrial situation in the education sector...(and) sees the withdrawal of services as an extreme sanction by its employees and cannot explain the basis for the GTU's action".

He noted that teachers as a group received the highest pay increases in 2001 and 2002 and said the Office of the President "is aware that none of the other claims offered by the union can withstand full public scrutiny as causes for the strike."

As a consequence of the industrial action by the union, the Office of the President has instructed the Ministry of Education to prepare to implement its contingency plan to provide instruction to students who will be writing the Secondary School Entrance Examination (SSEE) next month, he said.

Touching on the withdrawal by the GTU from this year's annual Track and Field, Cycling and Swimming championship for schools, he asked: "How can the union leadership explain the unilateral and spiteful abandonment of its agreement with the Ministry of Education to co-manage amateur sports in Guyana and particularly the way it was done?"

"To frustrate our young athletes warrants a detailed explanation from the leadership", he said.

As a result of the union's withdrawal, the ministry said it was too late to make alternative arrangements and the games were cancelled.

Luncheon said the Office of President is urging the union and teachers to "stop these efforts at adventurism and work with the administration to restore the good relationship that has traditionally prevailed."

He added: "The situation is not irretrievable, common sense can prevail and the advice of the reckless and self-interested can be avoided and ignored."

He also noted that the Ministry of Labour in accordance with its statutory provisions has invited the two parties "to undergo a detailed process that can lead to the resolution of the issue."

Labour Minister, Dr. Dale Bisnauth on Tuesday appointed a three-member advisory committee to look into the dispute between the Education Ministry and the GTU which triggered the strike that has affected schools around the country.

A statement from Chief Labour Officer, Mr. Mohamed Akeel said the minister was concerned that the strike has escalated from two days a week to "an indefinite period" despite efforts by the Labour Ministry to resolve the matter.

"It is the view of the minister that a prolongation of the strike can adversely affect student performance at examinations and he has therefore in the national interest taken this decision (to establish the committee)", Akeel said.

He said both parties have been advised of the setting up of the committee and the GTU, as a result, has been requested to discontinue its industrial action.

The advisory committee is headed by former University of Guyana Pro-Chancellor and consultant with the International Labour Organisation, Dr. Martin Boodhoo. Other members are UG Bursar, Mr. John Seeram and Industrial Relations Officer with the Guyana Sugar Corporation, Mr. Francis Carryl.

Akeel said establishment of the committee is provided for by the Labour Act.

The team is to enquire into the dispute between the parties and "make such report and recommendation as (it) deems expedient", he said.

The GTU industrial action began March 6 with the union calling on teachers to strike for two days per week.

It, however, from Monday announced that the strike will be intensified.

The union said the intensification of the strike was prompted by, among other reasons, a non-response by the Ministry of Education to its letter indicating a willingness to end the strike provided terms of resumption can be agreed upon.

GTU wrote the Ministry of Education last week indicating its willingness to end the strike provided the terms of resumption can be mutually agreed upon.