Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga is sticking to her guns regarding the principle of no work, no pay during the recent educators' strike.

In written reply to a Parliamentary question on Tuesday, she said that she remained committed to the principle of no work, no pay.

The deductions would be staggered over a three-month period as set out in the draft agreement on the salaries for 2010.

The department had already started collating information on employees who were on strike. The deductions would be made based on the number of days each employee was on strike.

Two provinces had already proceeded with the deductions, while the other seven were finalising the collation of information to enable them to proceed.

Regarding the impact of the strike, Motshekga said that some provinces reported that there was either a total or semi shut-down of the head office, district offices, and schools.

In other provinces, the situation was different with some areas functioning normally.

In areas where there was total or semi shut-down, no effective schooling could take place, since the majority of teachers were either on strike or had been "victimised from entering the buildings".

This resulted in a number of valuable school days lost.

In the national department, the section dealing with the issuing of matric certificates was closed, fearing that striking employees could gain access to the building through this section, she said.