Jordan's teachers on Saturday night rejected a call by Prime Minister Omar Razzaz to suspend their strike and sit at the dialogue table, saying it was disappointing.
Earlier on Saturday, Razzaz addressed his country's teachers with a letter - published by the official news agency (Petra) - asking them to end the strike, pointing out that his government is studying the union's remarks on the career path and improving the living conditions of the teacher.
"We are all with the teacher in the trench of the homeland under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II and our internal front, you are a safety valve," Razzaz told the teachers.
"Make sure that what serves your interest is in our interest, and that your dignity is ours, you are the makers of the future and hope."
He continued, "It is time for students to return to the seats of study and teacher to perform his lofty message, in order to reassure parents on the pleasures of their livers, and to sit at the table to serve the teacher and student and the advancement of the educational process, for the good of the homeland and future generations."
But the teachers' union said in a statement to its spokesman Noureddine Nadim that Razzaz's message was "disappointing and does not live up to the minimum demands of teachers."
The union explained that "the statement of the Prime Minister insists on evasiveness and distort statements towards the professional path only does not recognize the right of the teacher," adding that this is "totally unacceptable."
Since last Sunday, Jordan's teachers have been on strike for an "outstanding financial allowance."
On Friday, the Acting President of the Jordanian Teachers Association Nasser Al-Nawasra announced that they will continue their open strike, pointing out in a live broadcast on the union's Facebook page:
The union, which has about 140,000 teachers, is adhering to the continuation of the strike until it receives the allowance, and to hold accountable those responsible for the abuse of teachers and arrests during protests last Thursday.
The allowance is 50% of the basic salary, and the union says it reached an agreement with the government in 2014, while the current government says that percentage is linked to the development of performance.