BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- The Palestinian Authority education ministry on Wednesday insisted that teachers must make up classes missed due to strike action on Saturdays, after their union refused.

Teachers' union spokesman Bassem Naim on Wednesday said staff would "clearly and unequivocally" refuse to teach extra classes on the weekend until a final agreement was signed with the PA.

The ministry's undersecretary Mohammad Abu Zeid told Ma'an the ministry would not back down on its decision to open schools on Saturdays until the end of the semester to make up for lessons missed due to a recent general strike.

Abu Zeid accused the union of continuously interfering in the ministry's affairs, and said the intrusion would harm students and result in a longer semester.

Abu Zeid said Sunday that the ministry would extend the semester by a week if the syllabus was not completed.

He urged the union not to cause discord between the rights of teachers and students.