Late on Wednesday, the PPTA suspended its plan to refuse to teach year 10 pupils yesterday, to recommence talks with the ministry.
But schools did not learn of the suspension until about 4.30pm; well after classes were finished, and too late for many schools to tell pupils the strike the next day was off.
PPTA president Kate Gainsford said she strongly advised the ministry that issuing notice at such a late stage was impractical, but Secretary for Education Karen Sewell had promised an offer would be made on class-size limitations and it would only be on the table if strike action was called off.
The PPTA negotiating team agreed to call off the action in exchange for the class-size offer, but made it clear the ministry would need to meet the members' claim if the action was to remain suspended, she said.
Further strikes are still planned for November 18 and December 2, when year 9 pupils would not be taught, and November 23, when year 10 pupils would not be taught.
However, Ms Sewell said she had repeatedly advised the PPTA to cancel the strike since Monday this week.
"I'm extremely disappointed the PPTA only informed schools of their decision late yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon.
"This very late notice has caused confusion for parents, students and schools.
"However, I'm very pleased that bargaining is continuing."
Yesterday, confusion reigned as hundreds of Otago secondary school pupils took the day off for a teachers' strike that never happened.
Kaikorai Valley College principal Philip Craigie said only "a handful" of about 130 year 10 pupils arrived for class after "puzzled" calls from a few parents yesterday morning.
"The notice was just too late for us to do anything about it, and if the kids didn't read the newspaper or hear the news, they probably wouldn't have known."
Otago Boys' High School rector Clive Rennie said, like other schools, he sent parents a note telling them about the strike before the action was suspended.
It all meant about 40% of his close-to-200 year 10 pupils were not in class yesterday morning. He was critical of the late notice in a dispute he said was characterised by posturing, teacher-bashing, and the gradual undermining of teaching as a career.
Otago Girls' High School principal Jan Anderson said most, but not all, year 10 pupils attended. Most learned of the turnaround in a text message sent by the school soon after the announcement.
"But I have to say it really was disappointing it was left so late in the day. Really, it is dysfunctional to make this sort of call when classes are over for the day."
Ms Gainsford said official negotiations were expected to continue next week.
