(ANSA-AP) - WARSAW, APRIL 10 - Middle school students in
Poland took important exams Wednesday even though a nationwide
teachers' strike entered its third day, forcing exam authorities
to ask for help from retired teachers, religion tutors and those
not on strike.
The exam in humanities for around 350,000 students was held
in all schools but one, in the western village of Owinska, where
extra help for the exam team wasn't provided in time. Tests in
mathematics and foreign languages will be held Thursday and
Friday.
The indefinite strike began Monday after pay negotiations
with the government failed. Teachers' monthly net earnings range
from 1,800 zlotys to 3,000 zlotys ($470 to $780).
Deputy Prime Minister Beata Szydlo thanked school directors
for making the exams possible and urged striking educators to
accept the government's offer, which unions have repeatedly
rejected. Teachers want an immediate 30% pay increase. But the
government has said it will accelerate a planned increase of
around 15% and introduce a new remuneration system, which would
substantially raise salaries but also increase the number of
lessons a teacher gives a week to 24 from the current 18.
(ANSA-AP).
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