Patna, October 17: The Bihar government on Tuesday suspended a residential training programme for teachers of state-run schools midway amid protests claiming that it would deprive them of the Durga Puja holidays. The residential training programme began on Monday, and would have continued till October 21, according to the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT). "The SCERT has decided to suspend the earlier scheduled residential training of teachers, from October 16 to October 21, for certain unavoidable reasons. The new schedule for the training will be announced later," said the notification issued on Tuesday. Operation Ajay Update: 286 Passengers, Including 18 Nepalese Citizens, Coming Back to India Amid Israel-Hamas War', Says EAM S Jaishankar

In some districts of the state, the Durga Puja holidays began on Tuesday, while in the other districts, it would begin on October 19, officials said. Hailing the decision to suspend the training programme, TET Primary Teachers' Association convenor Raju Singh told PTI, "Teachers are jubilant over the Education Department's announcement. We thank Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for this decision. Now, we want the CM to accord government employee status to the large number of contractual teachers who have been working for years." Mallikarjun Kharge Attack on Centre Over ‘Selfie Points’ Directive to Indian Army, Says 'Modiji Promoting Himself'

Last week, Union Minister Giriraj Singh met Governor Rajendra Arlekar over the issue. "Decision to hold residential training of teachers during Durga Puja by the SCERT of the Education Department is against religious sentiments of Hindu teachers," he had told reporters after the meeting.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)