Education minister seeking extra funds to avert nationwide strike action

Education Minister Mikuláš Bek wants to seek additional funds for his sector at a meeting with coalition partners on Tuesday, the ctk news agency reported. The minister wants to discuss proposals that would bring an additional five billion crowns to the ministry’s budget, which would avert looming nationwide strike action. School unions have announced a daylong strike of primary and secondary schools and kindergartens  on Monday, November 27. Many schools fear that the funds earmarked for next year will not allow them to maintain the present quality of education, since they will be forced to lay off both teachers and assistants in order to maintain the present level of salaries.