Online forms send students into tizzy

Several options on the FYJC online forms has led to chaos among children and parents

Online forms send students into tizzy

Several options on the FYJC online forms has led to chaos among children and parents

For students seeking admission into junior colleges in the city, it's now the case of too many cooks spoiling the broth.

Students and parents alike are complaining of the complexity of the forms and are worried that incorrect forms will lead to them missing out on the college of their dreams

Students and parents across the city are complaining of the many options presented in the form turning a rather simple task into a daunting and nightmarish experience.

Parents are complaining of the various options the online forms present to students and the number of colleges a student has to select.

Harish Shetty, a worried parent said, "There is a lot of confusion while filling up the forms. First, we are asked to choose our preferred colleges from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, then according to the zone and then by ward.
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But, they very explicitly mention that the colleges selected cannot overlap in any of the lists. Why does the education board make everything so complicated?"

Another parent, also tangled in the air of confusion echoed, the same sentiments. G Sharma added, "The forms ask us to select 35 colleges according to the various zones , but we have to ensure that there are no repetitions.

However, my question is how will the colleges select the students? Will it look at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region choices first or the preferences from the ward or zone? Why can't they make the process simple and efficient?"

Schoolspeak
It's not just parents who are bewildered by the several lists and options to choose from. School officials also claim that the online form-filling exercise is befuddling beyond measure.

Shreyas Mantri, a computer instructor from Hansraj Morarji Public School said, "Students are finding it difficult to choose 35 colleges, as so many choices could be risky. Also, ensuring that college preferences do not overlap is difficult."

However, in an attempt to make the process simpler for students, some school authorities are providing them with help.

Said Anjana Prakash, principal, Hansraj Morarji Public School, "Our school has started with the application procedure and we also have an expert, who offers advice and tips on filling forms."

Students worried
And it's not just the several options that are making students averse to the idea of online admissions but also the fact that they haven't received their original marksheets yet.

Approximately 1,60,000 students have filled up the forms online but are still waiting to get their original marksheets not relying on the computerised ones that they got at the time of declaration of their results.
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Shardul Hindlekar, a student of Hansraj Morarji Public School said, "My school has not started the admission process and I will fill my form in the school. I will start applying online only when I am sure of the result which was displayed on the Internet."

Akhil Kumar added, "I have not yet started filling the form because my school has instructed us to wait for our marksheet. It's better to have the marksheet in hand than relying on the Internet."

Education Dept speaks
Sunil Chauhan, Deputy Director of School Education, Mumbai division, said, "Till now 1,60,000 students have filled their forms online and we don't want them to opt for the offline admission procedure. Last year, we had provided fewer options in choosing colleges, which led to several students not getting admissions. Hence, we have increased the options for students. However, one shouldn't worry as the admission will be based on the merit list only."

It's time for schools and colleges across the city to reopen for the new academic session. Keeping this in mind, MiD DAY will be bringing you a series of reports on significant issues related to the sphere of education. The stories will range from safety guidelines for school buses to the contentious issue of fee hikes. Also on the agenda will be the upcoming SSC results and the online admission procedures for educational institutions in the city. Remember, knowledge is power.