The state’s school education department has reported that the third edition of its ‘Pahile Paool’ (First Steps) fair and training for parents, part of its school preparedness campaign, has been a significant success. A total of 8.27 lakh students have enrolled in first grade across zilla parishad and government-run schools throughout the state.

These new enrolments were facilitated by the ‘Pahile Paool’ initiative conducted by the Education Department in various districts. Schools will reopen on June 15 in most of Maharashtra and on July 1 in Vidarbha, marking these children’s first steps into school.