Northern Ireland Education Minister Mr Martin McGuinness was today under fire for failing to provide clear advice to schools on whether they should close for union protests over loyalist threats against workers.
The Ulster Unionist chairman of Mr McGuinness's scrutiny committee at Stormont, Mr Danny Kennedy, said the minister should make his position clear on whether schools should be affected by the half-day stoppages and rallies tomorrow against the death threats against teachers and postal workers.
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The Assembly Education Committee chairman argued: "I believe it is essential that schools remain open tomorrow and underline their unique position as havens of stability and normality. Schools can register their protest at recent events in a proper manner but without disruption to the education needs of pupils.
"I also agree with criticisms levelled at the minister regarding the lack of clear advice to schools, particularly regarding transport. The minister should take action immediately to prevent a chaotic situation developing."
Trade unionists are staging rallies in Belfast, Derry, Omagh and Enniskillen in the wake of the Ulster Freedom Fighters' murder of postal worker Daniel McColgan and threats issued against Catholic teachers and postmen.
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Daniel McColgan - murdered by loyalists
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Teachers' unions have called on their members to leave schools at noon tomorrow.
School principals have been left to negotiate with parents and bus firms about getting schoolchildren home.
The unions also placed an advertisement today in Northern Ireland's main newspapers expressing outrage at the death threats.
The NASUWT union, which financed the advert, decided to press ahead despite the lifting of the threat last night by the Red Hand Defenders, a cover name used by the Ulster Freedom Fighters and Loyalist Volunteer Force.
Mr Tom McKee, Northern Ireland regional officer of the NASUWT, said it was important to send a strong signal to paramilitary groups that such threats must not be repeated.
Mr McGuinness today defended his decision to let schools decide whether to close or remain open during the protests.
While stressing his support for the rallies and the right of workers to make a stand against the threats, the Mr McGuinness said he would have been criticised had he asked schools to close.
Mr McGuinness argued: "I would have faced criticism from people who would have said that I would have been forcing them to close their schools and I think that would have been a totally unacceptable situation.
"From my perspective, I think the collective priority of everybody should be the safety and well-being of all children and with that in mind, I think it should be for individual school principals to make a judgment, in light of their own particular local circumstances, whether, and for how long, pupils should attend school on Friday."
PA