People in primary and secondary teaching jobs all across the UK will take further industrial action on March 26th, a union has confirmed.

If it does happen, it will be the third time a strike over pay, pensions and working conditions has disrupted lessons in the UK.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) last spoke to government officials in October, but talks have stalled since, with many teachers striking before the end of last year as the country's other main union - the National Association of Schoolmasters and Women Teachers (NASUWT) - supported the decision of the NUT.

So far, the NASUWT has not committed to the next round of strikes, but if it does, every school in the UK could potentially be affected by the action.

General secretary of the NUT Christine Blower said over 17 weeks ago reassurances were given by the government that education secretary Michael Gove would discuss a range of teachers' pressing concerns.

"Subsequently, the education secretary has put obstacle after obstacle in the way of talks, showing no serious attempt to resolve - or even to discuss - the matters in dispute.

"We on the other hand have made every effort. We cancelled the strike planned for November and postponed action in February. We have indicated we will meet with Michael Gove anywhere, any time to seek to resolve the disputes in the interest of the education service," explained Ms Blower.

A Department for Education (DfE) spokesman responded by saying parents would frown upon industrial action, especially when the row centres on the government's measures to allow schools to pay more to high-performing teachers.

Has the DfE been far too simplistic in its assessment of the situation? Is it fair to send that message out to parents? As somebody who has experience working under the current government's regime, do you feel that strikes are the only way to work towards a resolution?