Thousands of government officers in the district have been asked to adopt state-run schools as part of a new initiative to improve their present scenario.

Under the initiative ''Ek Diwas Shalesathi'' (a day for school), government officials have been asked to adopt schools in the district from July 7 to improve the current situation, an official attached to District Education department said today.

The programme, a brainchild of Konkan Divisional Commissioner, will be implemented in two phases, he said.

The officials were recently trained for the initiative.

Principal Secretary (Education) of Maharashtra, Nand Kumar, said officials should be present in the school right from the start and participate in the prayers and stay up to the lunch and also get involved in all activities.

"They should also teach the students," he said.

Thane District Collector Mahendra Kalyankar said officials should concentrate on resolving issues of the students, parents, and teaching staff and find out ways and means to improve the standard of schools.