The island’s teachers have continued their sick out for a second day, forcing the closure of some schools, while in some cases the students who have turned up for classes have been allowed to work on projects.

Teachers began a three day sick out yesterday.

They are upset that the government will begin paying them increases this month, though they have rejected the 16 percent wage increase over four years that’s on the table.

Reports from Maud McLeod High School in Westmoreland are that a small number of students turned up for school but not all teachers were on duty.

At the St. Mary High School, in St. Mary, only grade nine students are at school as career week is underway.

Some teachers are at school but the rest of the school population is not present.

And, Principal of York Castle High in St. Ann Raymon Treasure states that only 75 of the 1,371 students turned up for classes.

And one parent, who has a son who attends excelsior high school in St. Andrew, received an advisory from the school this morning, stating that the excelsior infant department, primary and high school will be closed until Wednesday.

The advisory states that school will reopen on Thursday.

It continues by saying that parents should make necessary arrangements for the care and protection of their children.

And another parent of Shortwood Practicing Primary & Junior High school says she did not send her children to school today, because the strike was said to last for three days starting yesterday.

However, checks made at the school revealed that teachers are present, but there was no student to teach.

Minister of Education, Senator Ruel Reid has provided an update on the situation so far.

In the meantime, the Jamaica Teachers Association has been invited to a conciliatory meeting at the Ministry of Labour today (Mar 13) at 2:00 p.m.