Teachers are set to strike across Stirling next month as part of an ongoing dispute over pay.
The industrial action, announced by the EIS union, will see teachers walk out on 16 separate days through January and February and follows similar action last week - the first of its type in Scotland in 40 years.
Strikes forced the closure of almost all state-run schools across the Scottish mainland, with nurseries, primaries and secondaries in Stirling all shutting their doors.
The latest round of action will see teachers in Stirling stepping out on to the picket lines on January 24 along with their colleagues in East Renfrewshire.
Meanwhile, their counterparts in Clackmannanshire will go on their strike day on February 1.
Following last week’s strike, a Stirling EIS member told the Observer: “Stirling’s teachers picketed a number of larger primaries and all secondary schools on Thursday – the first national day of industrial action by teachers in 40 years.
“This is an entirely unknown and alien situation for teachers, with strike action an absolute last resort and it is a direct consequence of the dismissive attitude of the Scottish government and COSLA.
“Stirling’s teachers also attended rallies in both Glasgow and Edinburgh to press the message home to our employers, such is the depth of feeling.
“A happy staffroom equals a happy classroom: quality teaching conditions lead directly to quality learning conditions – this isn’t rocket science and it’s shameful our employers are choosing to ignore that fundamental fact.
Announcing the latest action, EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said: “The EIS will move ahead with our previously announced two additional days of national strike action in January.
“We can also now confirm that Scotland’s teachers will strike on sixteen consecutive days in January and February, with teachers in two local authorities on strike on each of these sixteen days.”
“We have been forced into the escalation of this action by the lack of willingness to negotiate properly and to pay teachers properly, by a government that says it wished to be judged on its record on education.
“The judgement of Scotland’s teachers on the matter of pay is clear, with the first programme of national strike action that we have engaged in for four decades.
“It is now for the Scottish Government and COSLA to resolve this dispute, and prevent further strike action, by coming back to the negotiating table with a substantially improved pay offer for all of Scotland’s teaching professionals.”
In response to last week’s action, Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville branded the union’s calls for a 10 per cent pay rise as “unaffordable” and backed the latest pay offer made to teachers.
Ms Somerville said: “This is now the fourth offer that has been made. In the same time EIS have not changed their request for a 10 per cent pay increase – even for those on the highest incomes.
“I have been clear that we have limited room for manoeuvre.
“The financial situation for the Scottish Government is challenging and additional money for teacher pay means reduced public services elsewhere.”
