PATNA, Sept. 23 -- Education minister Sunil Kumar on Monday categorically said that there would be no change in the number of vacancies for Teachers' Recruitment Examination (TRE-4), as announced earlier. The government had earlier announced over 26,000 vacancies for TRE-4, which had led to protests by aspirants on Patna roads twice this month, including on Friday last in support of their demands for over one lakh vacancies. However, the minister said roster clearance was in final stages and the vacancies for over 26,000 posts would be sent to Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) in 4-5 days for advertisement. "If there are still vacancies left, they would be added to TRE-5 scheduled next year. TRE-4 is not the end. Vacancies are calculated as per requirement on the basis of students' number and subject-wise seats in schools. Over 26,000 vacancies are not less," he added. "The aspirants should know that the Nitish government has already recruited 2.33 lakh teachers and 33,000 headmasters and head teachers through BPSC and the CM has already announced millions of jobs in the next term, should people support the NDA government, which we are confident of," he added. On September 2, the government had altered its own decision in the wake of growing demand and protests, and announced that STET, which got delayed, would be held in October prior to TRE-4. The schedule for STET was also announced, with result publication on November 16. The CM had in July directed the education department to identify teachers' vacancies at the earliest to initiate the process for holding TRE-4, with 35% reservation for native woman candidates. Teacher aspirants' leader Dilip Kumar, however, termed the minister's statement "insensitive and against the youth of the state". Regarding the vexed issue of teachers' transfer, the minister said applicants who could not be transferred in the latest phase at any of the three district choices given by them could apply afresh with three new choices. "Of 41,689 teachers who applied online between September 5-13, 24,600 got transferred to one of the three choices given by them, while the rest around 17,000 teachers would need to apply afresh online from September 23-28 with three new choices for transfer," he added....