If the teachers' strike in Bulgaria would continue for more than 15 days, the first school semester would have have to be prolonged and vacations shortened, Milka Kodzhabeshieva, head of Coordination and Control of Secondary Education at the Education Ministry said.

Kodzhabeshieva made her statement after a meeting with the head inspectors on October 3.

Teachers started an effective strike on September 24, demanding a 100 per cent raise in salaries. The 15th day of the strike would be Friday October 12, the newspaper said.

Vacations of all teachers, including those who did not strike, would be shortened, 24Chasa daily said.

On average teachers have lost 120 leva of their salaries as the days they are on strike are not paid.
A maximum of 200 leva per teacher could be given out of the schools' mutual aid funds, the newspaper said.