Mumbai: Despite 5 admission rounds, 76,000 FYJC seats lying vacant
Over 76,000 seats are lying vacant in the colleges across Mumbai Metropolitan Region, despite conducting five regular admission rounds for the first-year junior colleges (FYJCs). Of this, 80% of seats belong to permanently unaided colleges or in unaided divisions of aided colleges. According to rough estimates, only 5,000 students may secure admissions this year, which shows the gap between number of seats and students.
This year, 10,000 seats were created in 14 new colleges
This year, Maharashtra education department had created 10,000 FYJC/Class-XI seats in Mumbai with 14 new colleges. Educationists and activists have time and again raised the need for increasing the number of seats in private colleges, without conducting proper survey of the number of applicants. Also, this rampant granting of permission to more divisions and colleges every year has become a cause of concern.
"Check if there's need for more seats, then open colleges"
"Every year, hundreds of seats lie vacant as there are no takers. The state education department grants permission to new colleges and divisions without even checking if there is a need for more seats," asked Vaishali Bafna, a member of SYSCOM, an education think tank. She pointed out last year over 55,000 seats weren't filled up, even after conducting 11 admission rounds.
Students with low scores are pushed into unaided divisions: Parents
Meanwhile, parents alleged that those with low scores are inevitably directed to these unaided divisions, for which they end up paying anything between Rs. 6,000 to 15,000, as course fee. "Colleges are more interested in admitting students under their unaided divisions to get revenue from fees," said a parent from Mahim. This blanket permission given to colleges leaves them with no choice, they alleged.
