India, June 1 -- With enrollment in class 1 in schools run by local self-government bodies across Maharashtra registering a sharp drop over the last four years, the school education department has urged municipalities, municipal corporations, zilla parishads and other local self-government bodies to hold school enrolment festivals on a large scale this year.

The department has also planned a special admission drive at the start of the new academic year, under which the chief minister, deputy chief ministers, ministers, lawmakers and senior officials would visit schools and welcome new students. Officials and public representatives would adopt the schools they visit for one year and monitor educational quality, infrastructure and student ...