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A teachers’ union in Iran has urged members to stage a protest Tuesday to condemn school gas attacks while another group has demanded an explanation from the Supreme Leader.

At least 58 schools in one-third of the country’s provinces have been attacked by unidentified gases since November 30 when the first case of poisoning among schoolgirls was reported in the religious city of Qom. Around 1,000 students have become ill with the mysteriously dispersed, unidentified fumes so far.

Qom, capital of a central province of the same name with 30 schools, Ardabil, capital of the northwestern Ardabil province with 9, and the capital Tehran with 8 schools lead the list of the most targeted cities.

The Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers' Trade Associations on Wednesday released a statement and urged teachers and the people of Iran to stage rallies on March 7 outside the parliament in Tehran and in front of the education department headquarters in other cities to demand urgent resolution of school attacks as well as teacher’s own problems including a wage increase for the next year that takes the factor of inflation into account.