The teachers’ strike is unnecessary, disproportionate and disappointing, Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan has said.

Ms O’Sullivan said she had “moved 60 per cent” and believed the strikes could have been avoided if the teaching unions had got involved in “meaningful” talks.

“I do think the strike is unnecessary. I do think it’s disproportionate and I think it’s disappointing that the schools are closed today.”

Speaking on her way into Cabinet she said she hoped a second strike day, planned for January, could be avoided.

More than 730 schools are closed today as secondary teachers across the State strike over a junior cycle reform plan.

The action is affecting the 333,175 students enrolled this year in post-primary schools.

Organisations representing schools boards of management yesterday joined parents’ and students’ representatives, as well as employers group Ibec, in calling for the strike to be called off.

In a strongly-worded statement on Monday, Education and Training Boards Ireland, which represents vocational schools and training centres, described the strike as both “regrettable and avoidable”.

Its general secretary Michael Moriarty said Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan had made “significant concessions” by reducing school-based assessment from 100 per cent to 40 per cent of the new award, and by restoring state certification.

The Joint Managerial Body, which represents boards of management at almost two thirds of secondary schools, was also critical of the unions’ stance.

Its general secretary Ferdia Kelly said the Minister’s proposals formed a “realistic basis” for the successful implementation of the new junior cycle.

However, the two unions representing secondary teachers – the ASTI and the TUI – say the Minister’s proposals do not go far enough, and they want school-based assessment deleted from her plans.

Such assessment “would compromise the credibility, transparency and fairness of the examinations process,” the unions said in a joint statement.