Scotland’s Education Secretary has said she will leave “no stone unturned” to quickly resolve teacher strikes affecting schools across the country.
But Shirley-Anne Somerville said there was still “some distance” between the two sides in the pay dispute.
She told MSPs: “No one wants to see a strike in our schools.”
Most of Scotland’s primary schools were closed on Tuesday and secondary schools will be closed on Wednesday.
The latest talks between unions and Scottish Government officials, which took place on Monday, failed to prevent strike action.
Members of the Education Institute of Scotland (EIS), NASUWT, the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA) and the Association of Headteachers and Deputy Heads (AHDS) are taking part in the strikes.
They rejected a 5% pay rise and argued for 10%. The latest offer includes increases of up to 6.85% for the lowest paid staff.
Conservative Stephen Kerr spoke about Monday’s proceedings as the Scottish Parliament resumed after the winter break.