CAIRO: The Egyptian Ministry of Education announced the rate of school strikes increased 3.25 percent from the 2.88 percent yesterday. The ministry reported the number of schools under strikes reached 1,486 nationwide. Reports issued by the ministry revealed the governorates of Suez, Beni Suef and New Valley witnessed the highest rates of strikes. The governorates of Luxor, Suhag and Damietta witnessed the lowest rates of teacher strikes. The rates of strikes varied during the schools' first week. The rate of strikes increased by 0.6 percent last Saturday, then increased to 2.6 and 3 percent. It decreased to 2.88 percent yesterday and increased to its highest rate since the beginning of school at 3.25 percent. It should be noted that Egyptian Prime Minister Sharaf held a meeting today with Egyptian Minister of Education Ahmed Gamal el-Din and issued a statement, not accepting the strike. They requested the teachers to start their work.