Hundreds of students were sent home from class and 20 schools were hit by industrial action yesterday, as a stand-off between Government and teachers rumbled into a second day.understands that at least 500 students had the day off yesterday amid what one union leader described as "organised chaos."

Government confirmed that 20 schools were affected by the ongoing industrial action by the Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT). Some teachers failed to show, while others were said to be working to rule.

It was unclear last night if the unofficial action would stretch into a third day ? leaving parents and pupils in the dark at a time when many students are taking crucial exams.

Education Minister Terry Lister returned to the Island late yesterday, and Premier Alex Scott said last night he expected the Minister to make a statement on the situation when MPs meet in the House of Assembly this morning.

Mr. Scott added: "He will be briefed by the Acting Education Minister and I'm hopeful that progress has been made."

As another day of confusion gripped the education system, an estimated 300 students were sent home from Whitney Institute Middle School when about 40 teachers refused to teach, a source said.

Principal of St. George's Preparatory Mary Lodge said that around 120 students were sent home when four of her teachers called in sick.

She said she did not know how long the situation would continue.

And an East End Primary teacher, who did not want to be named, said 70 students were turned away because teachers were not at their desks yesterday morning.

But the action was not universal. Francis Patton Primary, Elliot Primary, West Pembroke Primary, Paget Primary and Somerset Primary said yesterday was a normal school day. And CedarBridge Academy, Clearwater Middle School, Dellwood Middle School, Spice Valley Middle School and Sandys Middle School said all of their teachers turned up yesterday.

Nobody at St. David's Primary or Gilbert Institute could be reached for comment.

The principal of Southampton Glebe Primary refused to comment and messages were not returned from Victor Scott School, Prospect Primary, Northlands Primary, Purvis Primary, Heron Bay Primary, Port Royal Primary and West End Primary.

Wildcat action started on Wednesday after the Bermuda Union of Teachers issued 21 working days' notice of a planned strike to the Ministry of Education last Friday.

Talks between the Ministry and the union had broken down last week.

BUT general secretary Michael Charles previously told that the final straw in the failed negotiations was the fact that the Ministry wanted to pay pre-school administrators on a pro-rata basis so they would not receive a salary for the two-month summer break.

Mr. Charles said yesterday that he did not know how long these disruptions would last and when asked how many schools had been affected by yesterday's actions he did not know as it was being carried out by a "special committee".

"I will get an update this afternoon," Mr. Charles said. However, he did not return calls yesterday.

Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT) president Lisa Trott, who works at Whitney Institute, confirmed her students had been sent home but said none of them missed any exams.

Mrs. Trott estimated that around 500 students had been affected across the Island.

Asked how long the wildcat action was likely to continue for, she replied: "At this point I'm not sure what's going on tomorrow. They probably don't tell me so I can say I don't know."

Responding to criticisms from parents that they should have been given notice of the action, she said: "Part of the intent of a strike is to cause some type of disruption or put attention on the issue.

"If we put out warnings it would ruin the effectiveness of the action." However, she said she wished to stress to parents: "Listen carefully to both sides and be patient with us. This is not the first resort but the last straw."

Mrs. Trott added that although some teachers walked out while others worked, there was no split within the teaching fraternity and that people were following instructions on what action to take.

"It's organised chaos, I guess," she said.

And she claimed that reports that teachers had walked off the job at lunchtime because of a work to rule were inaccurate, and they had left at the same time because "they like to take lunch together."

Government yesterday apologised to parents and students for the disruption.

The Ministry of Education said it continued to be concerned about BUT action in schools, which it said has had "a serious impact on classroom instruction and end-of-year assessments" in recent days. It said the Ministry planned to meet with union leaders today in an attempt to begin the process of resolving any issues and grievances.

Meanwhile, Shadow Education Minister Neville Darrell wanted to remind both sides they had a shared responsibility and urged them to play by the rules.

"The critical and important task of preparing our children to be productive and successful citizens for Bermuda is a daunting and awesome responsibility, which requires the sustained and committed involvement of all the parties to public education, namely, the parents, the children, the teachers, the principals, the Ministry of Education and the larger community," the Opposition MP said.

"One way or the other our children are learning about problem-solving from this current labour dispute. I implore both of the parties to remember to play by the rules and to honour prior understandings and commitments made to each other."

Mr. Darrell said children learned from what they experienced and saw around them.