School exams given in Poland as teachers strike enters day 3

A grandmother and grandson post a message in support of Polish teachers who are on strike in Warsaw, Poland, on Tuesday April 9, 2019. The orange sign says: "We support out teachers." Teachers held a second day of an open-ended strike on Tuesday demanding higher wages.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

School children rally in support of Polish teachers who are on strike in Warsaw, Poland, on Tuesday April 9, 2019. Teachers held a second day of an open-ended strike on Tuesday demanding higher wages.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

WARSAW, Poland – Middle school students in Poland are taking important middle school exams even though a nationwide teachers' strike entered its third day, forcing exam authorities to ask help from retired teachers, religion tutors and those not on strike.

It was not clear early Wednesday whether the exams could be held in all middle schools, given the shortage of staff over the strike on pay.

Last-ditch talks between the government and teachers' unions to end the standoff that has closed thousands of Poland's schools collapsed on Tuesday.

The head of Poland's national exam commission, Marcin Smolik, said he could not guarantee that exams would be held in every one of some 7,000 middle schools.