Mumbai: Maharashtra state Minister for Higher and Technical Education Uday Samant on Saturday said the government will take a decision on reopening of colleges with 50 per cent capacity by January 20.

Samant in an address with college principals and other stakeholders said that the education ministry is mulling over reopening of all colleges with 50 per cent capacity. He said that he will discuss the issue with the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and other stakeholders. He also stated that the official declaration can be made by January 20.

The state government has begun a review of the current status of colleges, availability of students along with non-teaching staff and hostel, he stated. Samant also guaranteed of initiating the recruitment procedure for multiple vacant posts of teaching staff at state-run and state-aided colleges.

Meanwhile, schools and colleges have remained shut from March 2020 amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Some schools and junior colleges were reopened for Classes 9 to 12 in various parts of Maharashtra earlier this month.