The ASTI says Thursday's strikes are still very much on the cards - after they failed to reach agreement with the Department of Education.

The union, which represents some 17,000 teachers, has agreed to further talks on Wednesday - but says there's still a way to go.

ASTI Vice President Ger Curtin says parents should expect that schools will close on Thursday; 

Time is running out for negotiations between secondary teachers and the Department of Education before ThursdayÂ’'s strike.

Hundreds of schools are set to close unless progress is made on the issue of pay scales for teachers who qualified after 2011.

Juliette Gash reports;