Education Minister Vinod Tawde on Thursday informed the Assembly that admissions to the first year junior college (FYJC) and filling of over 70,000 seats will complete in less than seven days. The office of the Maharashtra Director of Education office will release online the fourth and final list for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
Members pointed out the delay in the admission process, and pleaded for a special round for students left out of the process. “Sachin Tendulkar called me requesting if his driver’s son could be accommodated; if someone like him (Mr. Tendulkar) is struggling to get admission, the government must consider plights of thousands of others,” said BJP legislator Ashish Shelar.
Mr. Tawade said the third list was released on July 13, in which over a lakh students took part in the admission process. “The students should not be disappointed as the department is trying its best to accommodate all based on merit.”
Legislators pointed out the lack of transparency and understanding in the online admission process. “There were several who may not have documents in place; will they be accommodated?” asked Shiv Sena legislator Sunil Prabhu. Mr. Tawde said the government will conduct a counselling session for students.
“Several students have approached us saying that they are unhappy with the admission process and allotment of colleges. Some, who live in south Mumbai, have secured admission in the suburbs; what will happen to them?” a legislator asked.
The Minister said the colleges are doing their own scrutiny. “In one case, a student living in Malabar Hill submitted a fake income certificate; the college later hired a detective agency and found out that he belonged to a family of diamond merchants. We will deal with these cases on merit.”
