FYJC admissions: First fully online admission process to start from May 19

Student registrations for First Year Junior College FYJC admissions are set to begin on May 19 officially launching the Std XI admission season across Maharashtra However a slow response from colleges threatens to derail the schedule of what is being touted as the statersquos first fully digital admission processDespite the timely declaration of Std X and XII results on May 13 and May 5 respectively the centralised online admission system is seeing a tepid response from junior colleges so far As of Friday night only 9482 junior colleges and schools had completed their registration on the official portal a number education experts say is lower than last yearrsquosThis year marks a significant shift with the Maharashtra government mandating a 100 per cent online FYJC admission process across the entire state expanding it from earlier years when only select districts participated in the centralised system The move aims to simplify the procedure and increase accessibility but officials admit the logistical challenges are immenseFrom today students will be able to start listing their preferred colleges online Representation PiciStockldquoWe are working around the clock to verify and onboard institutions but with so many colleges yet to complete registration delays in the admission timeline appear likely Still student registrations will begin from Monday May 19rdquo a senior official from the school education department told middayFrom Monday students will be able to start registering and listing their preferred colleges online as per the schedule announced by the state government But incomplete college data and pending verifications have raised doubts over whether subsequent admission rounds can stay on scheduleParents too are grappling with the uncertainties Madhura Karve a parent from Thane voiced her concerns about the intercity preference system ldquoWe are open to sending our daughter to Pune where we have family and relatives But therersquos no clarity on how preferences across cities will be prioritised or processedrdquo she saidCollege administrators especially from rural areas are also wary of the implications of a centralised system A principal from Raigad district speaking on the condition of anonymity questioned whether smaller institutions would be marginalised ldquoUrban colleges will likely fill up fast Wersquore unsure if students rejected by those colleges will even consider listing ours as a backuprdquoHitech pushAs the state navigates its ambitious push for a fully digital FYJC admission system all eyes will be on the coming week With student registrations kicking off both clarity and swift action from the Directorate of School Education will be key to preventing disruptions in the academic calendar Since it will be a centralised process each candidate will have to give a minimum of one and a maximum of 10 preferences for colleges where they seek admission Previously students had to physically visit colleges to submit application forms leading to a timeconsuming and often inconsistent processTo ensure transparency and uniformity the school education department has issued formal guidelines via a government resolution These guidelines were released even before the official announcement of the Secondary School Certificate SSC results given that this is the first time FYJC admissions will be conducted completely online across MaharashtraldquoThis will be a fully digital admission process and it will make it more convenient reliable and accessible for both students and parentsrdquo said a senior official from the school education departmentHowever officials also acknowledge that implementation and data accuracy will be key to its successVacant seatsThe shift to a centralised online system also comes amid growing concerns over largescale seat vacancies in FYJC colleges especially in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region In the 2024 admission cycle 134 lakh seats 3294 per cent remained vacant across 1050 junior colleges in MMR despite 12 rounds of admissions including regular special and daily merit rounds Out of 408435 seats only 273898 students were admitted with 26495 remaining in the ldquonot admittedrdquo categoryy even though 300393 had registered This recurring trend has prompted educational activists and academics to call for a comprehensive audit of the admission process Many have also questioned the rationale behind granting permissions for new colleges and courses each year despite the mounting number of unfilled seats9482No of junior colleges and schools in state that have completed registration on official portal as of May 16Important dates May 19 to May 20 A practice session for students will be held from 11 am to 6 pm This is only for practice and data will be deleted by midnightof May 20May 21 to May 28 The actual registration and preference filling will take place from 11 am to 6 pmMay 30 The provisional merit list will be announced at 11 amMay 30 to June 1 The grievances and correction process via login will take place until 4 pmJune 3 Merit list will be declared at 4 pmJune 5 Admission allocation based on merit list zero roundJune 6 Allotted colleges will be displayed on portal at 10 amJune 6 to 12 Admissions to be opened from 11 am to 6 pm lsquoProceed for admissionrsquo selection Document upload and verification Must take admission if allottedJune 14 10 pm display of vacancy list for second roundKey features of FYJC admission process Four regular rounds of centralised admissions A final lsquoOpen Admission for Allrsquo round to fill remaining vacant seats No offline admissions allowed including management or manual quotas Admission decisions will be based strictly on merit Classes at junior colleges will begin after the first four rounds are completed The entire process will be supervised by the divisional deputy directors of education who will issue instructions to schools and collegesImportant instructions Once admitted via CAP or quota to a college admission is considered finalised Admission fee payment is accepted only via digital mode Strict adherence to the schedule is mandatory Managementinhouseminority quota admissions start from June 6atOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params