More than 5,000 teachers in Bahrain failed to go to work as they continue to strike in a show of solidarity with protesters at the Pearl Roundabout.

The Bahrain Teachers Society (BTS), which is leading the movement, said they would continue their action indefinitely if no agreement was reached with the government by tomorrow.

They have now been on strike for three consecutive days.

'We will wait and watch the response from concerned parties, before we announce our next plan of action,' said BTS president Mahdi Abu Deeb.

'The number of teachers joining this strike is increasing, which is a clear indication that we support the demands of these protesters.

'We are not going to stop.'

The teachers have set up a tent at the landmark in solidarity with the protesters.

'We registered over 5,000 teachers yesterday who did not go to work,' said Khadija Mahdi, an English teacher at Bader Al Kobra Intermediate School.

'This number is expected to increase with more male and female teachers joining in.'

Scores of men and women showed up at the teachers' tent yesterday to sign their attendance in the presence of Mahdi and other BTS members.

'All teachers from schools and some even from private universities are not going to work,' she said.

'We are making them sign their attendance here so the Education Ministry cannot deny that teachers did not go on strike.

Proof

'This registration paper is a proof showing how many teachers did not go to schools or universities.'

Our sister newspaper Gulf Daily News (GDN) reported yesterday that more than 1,300 former teachers, graduates and pensioners volunteered to fill vacant teaching posts following an appeal by the Education Ministry.

Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi, who appeared on Bahrain TV on Monday, stressed every child had the right to learn and striking teachers were jeopardising that.-TradeArabia News Service