Possible

format.php

@@ -59,13 +59,11 @@
     global $DB;
     $numsections = $DB->get_field_sql('SELECT max(section) from {course_sections}
         WHERE course = ?', [$course->id]);
-    if (empty($numsections)) {
-        /* Sections not created, so we need to use the default course setting,
-           which could be zero but this will still work. */
-        $numsections = get_config('moodlecourse', 'numsections');
-    }
-    $format->set_gnumsections($numsections);
-    $courseformatoptions['gnumsections'] = $numsections;
+    if (!empty($numsections)) {
+        // Sections created, so we need set gnumsections to this.
+        $courseformatoptions['gnumsections'] = $numsections;
+    } // Else remain the same.
+    $format->set_gnumsections($courseformatoptions['gnumsections']);
     $courseformatoptions['gnumsectionsnewcourse'] = 0;
 }
 

lib.php

@@ -539,14 +539,6 @@ public function create_edit_form_elements(&$mform, $forsection = false) {
             "$CFG->dirroot/course/format/grid/form/sectionfilemanager.php",
             'MoodleQuickForm_sectionfilemanager');
 
-        if (!$forsection) {
-            // The course edit form is displayed, so user intent rather than from backup / course upload.
-            $data = [
-                'gnumsectionsnewcourse' => 0,
-            ];
-            $this->update_course_format_options($data);
-        }
-
         $elements = parent::create_edit_form_elements($mform, $forsection);
 
         /* Increase the number of sections combo box values if the user has increased the number of sections