The Minister for Education says today's strike action by secondary school teachers is disproportionate and unnecessary.
Minister Jan O'Sullivan says the strike will only result in students missing a day, disruption to parents and the loss of a day's pay for teachers.
Approximately 7,000 students across Clare are home today as their teachers mount pickets over plans for in school assesment of the Junior Certificate.
Almost 30-thousand secondary school teachers across the country are on strike, over the requirement that they assess 40 percent of their own students work for the Junior Cycle.
The Education Minister has agreed to attend fresh talks with teachers unions next week.
Unions have yet to respond to the invitation from independent chairman, Dr Pauric Travers.
