Over three months after the SSC results, Maharashtra’s first attempt at a centralised FYJC (Standard XI) online admission system is facing serious challenges. Out of 21.5 lakh seats in over 9,500 junior colleges, only 13.4 lakh admissions have been confirmed, leaving around 8 lakh seats (38%) vacant. In response, the education department has announced a final special round of admissions, running till September 9, to fill these gaps.
The centralised system, aimed at ensuring transparency, has encountered execution flaws, leaving students and parents frustrated. Students with 90%+ scores reportedly had to opt for unaided divisions due to incorrect forms submitted at cyber cafés and slow response mechanisms, adding extra costs for families. Experts stress the need for real-time correction facilities and faster grievance redressal, emphasizing that delays are no longer acceptable.
Parents and students share their struggles: Akanksha Varpe, a rural Pune student, faced repeated errors while filling forms and eventually had to restart the process before securing admission in her preferred college. Sushma Kharat, a parent, reported that her son’s college preferences didn’t initially reflect, leading to failed admissions in earlier rounds.
The education department’s schedule for the special round allows students to register preferences until Sept 6, with seat allotments published on Sept 8 and admissions confirmed by Sept 9. While the single-window system is a step forward, colleges, parents, and policy experts call for urgent technical fixes, offline support, and faster responses to ensure students secure seats in time.This situation underscores the importance of streamlined online admissions and robust support mechanisms in Maharashtra’s education system, especially for students from rural areas or less tech-savvy families.
