Teachers in Solomon Islands have threatened to go on strike next week if the government continues to ignore their cost of living salary increase.
The Solomon Islands National Teachers Association, SINTA, says the government only gave teachers five percent of a twelve point five percent increase it agreed to pay two years ago.
SINTA says the outstanding seven point five percent payment is now long overdue.
The Solomon Star reports the threatened strike action has been sparked in reaction to parliamentarians paying themselves extra money in entitlements.
A meeting with more than five hundred teachers this week agreed to begin striking on Monday given if the government fails to attempt to solve the issue.
The Secondary School Entrance Examination starts next Wednesday and SINTA says if no progress is made it will call for a nation-wide boycott of the exams.
