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End the strike and return to the classroom to teach our children.
This is the Ministry of Education's plea to the 16,000 teachers
who will be on strike throughout this week.
The Ministry isn't the only one becoming irritated,
parents and students are too.
Norah Allerby may only be a Year 9 student
but she'll be among many sitting NCEA Level 1 Reo Maori
and apart from the usual jitters,
she also has to deal with strike action.
She is just one of 60,000 students affected by strike action today.
And it doesn't end here, within the next five weeks
four strikes are set for Year 9 students.
She says there is no benefit for children,
like Norah, in a classroom with no teacher.
The Government's latest offer includes a raise for teachers
at 2.4% within the next two years.
Adding to that is a one-off payment of $1000.
But teacher unions didn't agree.
Some of their requests include; a raise of around 4%;
having a cap on the number of students per classroom;
and better working conditions.
Strike action is expected to continue until the end of the year.
Tomorrow will see Year 11s affected, and next week Year 10s.
Maiki Sherman, Te Karere.