SCOTLAND'S school strikes are set to carry on until April, with the country's largest teachers' union announcing another 22 days of strike action.
Members of the EIS are already set to walk out of the classroom next week as part of a 16-day programme of "rolling strike action" targeting two local authorities each day.
The new dates include two days of national strike action in all schools and sectors on 28 February and 1 March, followed by a programme of strikes for 20 days between 13 March and 21 April when each local authority area will be impacted by three consecutive days of action.
The union said they had been forced to act because of the "inaction" of the Scottish Government and councils.
The EIS is seeking a 10 per cent pay rise, but ministers and council leaders have offered a bump to most teachers' salaries of £1,926 or 5%.
The Government and COSLA claim the deal is "progressive" as it is targetted at those on the lowest salaries, giving them a pay hike equivalent to 6.85%.
There have already been three days of national strike action – one in November and two in January.
EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said: “After a year of dither, delay and disingenuity from the Scottish Government and COSLA, Scotland’s teachers have simply had enough.”
Ms Bradley added, “The recent days of strike action by Scotland’s teachers have succeeded in bringing COSLA and the Scottish Government back to the negotiating table – but they have yet to put a single extra penny onto that table.
"Scotland’s teachers rejected a sub-inflationary 5% offer six months ago, and little or no progress has been made in negotiations since.
"The prospect of 22 additional days of strike action, on top of the 16 days of rolling action set to begin next week, should signal clearly to the Scottish Government and COSLA that they must now act with urgency.
"Our members are resolute and determined to secure a fair pay settlement, which both properly reflects their value and also takes account of the soaring cost of living.”
