India, Oct. 9 -- More than two years after ordering the closure of schools with fewer than 20 students, the Maharashtra government has decided to conduct a three-month impact assessment to determine how such closures, mergers or restructuring would affect students' access to education.

The decision was taken at a meeting at Mantralaya on Thursday between the principal secretary of the school education department, Ranjitsinh Deol, and representatives of Shala Vachava, Shikshan Vachava (Save Schools, Save Education), a forum of students, teachers, and organisations working in the education sector in Maharashtra.

The meeting was held against the backdrop of an indefinite sit-in protest by the forum at Azad Maidan, which began on October 5....