A staggering 96% of the seats were vacant for the 2016-17 RTE admission process in the city, revealed a report from the district education department. A similar number was reported in the corporation area.According to the report, the zilla parishad department managed to garner around 132 admissions, while the corporation department managed only 124 admissions—both less than 90%.According to the education department officials, the dismal response to the admission process, last year, was because the process under the Kolhapur ZP was made online.Subhash Chougule, education officer (primary) said that they will be implementing the special admission drives this year to make sure proper response is sought. Apart from the regular help centres across the schools for the online admission system, the aggressive awareness campaigns will also play an important role in this years admission process.Advertisement through different modes of communication—TV, radio and newspapers will play a crucial role during the campaign for the admission process. "Since the admission schedule has been announced, the department will look after the ample advertising of the process, so as to garner better response," he said.While P S Surve, acting administrative officer, Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) earlier this year had told TOI, "We will be appointing a dedicated team to looking into the admission process. They will help parents fill the forms online for admisssion."Education activist Sattappa Mohite, said that there has not been proper awareness about the online admission process across the state. "People in the rural areas need to be given an orientation about how the system works," he added.

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