<span style="color: #222222;">Maharashtra School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad has announced that schools will not reopen before Diwali, as the coronavirus cases continue to rise in the state. <br />''<br />''He said, the government is exploring various options and the main challenge is to find a way to end the academic year and assess students.<br />''<br />''State Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant also said his department does not intend to reopen colleges until the COVID-19 situation is under control. <br />''<br />''He said, the situation is grim for students who wish to pursue higher studies abroad, as their future depends on the government's decision. <br />''<br />''He said that even as the state government and bureaucracy mull over solutions, children and parents are worried as they seem to be caught in a quagmire.</span><br />