The secondary school teachers' strike is expected to result in the cancelation of tests considered important measures of education in science and math, teacher union head Ran Erez told Haaretz on Wednesday.

The exams are the international TIMMS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study), and the Meitzav (Measure of Efficiency and Growth in Schools) tests. Education Ministry Director General Shmuel Abuav said that the cancelation of these two exams will "cause irreparable damage to the State of Israel."

According to the Education Ministry, this will be the first time that a country does not participate in TIMMS because of a strike.

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TIMMS is an international examination in mathematics and sciences given to eighth graders, and Education Ministry officials consider it very important.

Last May, the teachers union's threat not to hold PISA exams - international assessments for 15-year-olds in math, science and language - led Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to intervene, and the tests were held following the issuance of restraining orders against the teachers.

The Meitzav exams are given by the teachers themselves, but the TIMMS are supervised by external examiners.

At the Education Ministry, officials say that even special preparations for holding the TIMMS exams - such as calls to parents asking that their children participate in the testing - will not yield the minimum required attendance of 90 percent per class.

Protesting the impasse

"In case the participation [in the exam] is not full, Israel will be disqualified, and this will prevent the Education Ministry from adopting the pedagogical lessons stemming from the [international] standing of Israel and [making] the necessary adjustments to its education programs," the Education Ministry stated.

The secondary school teachers are striking to protest the impasse in the negotiations with the government on their new wages.

On Thursday there will be strikes in secondary schools in the northern and southern districts, excluding the ORT and Amal schools.

Talks were held on Wednesday between government and teacher representatives.

"We encountered an understanding attitude in the talks," Erez said, "and the atmosphere was even friendly, but there has been no practical progress."