Maharashtra: As 90% club gets crowded, race for FYJC to get fiercer

Maharashtra FYJC Admission 2020 - SSC toppers have outgrown this year with more than 83,000 students scoring 90% and above. A nearly 200% jump over last year and 175% in the city is seen. As the state and central boards see a massive spike in high scorers, competition to get into top junior colleges will get tougher this year.

Principals predict a 1-2% rise in cut-offs, that will make it tough for even those with 90% to secure a seat of their choice.

Almost 15,000 SSC students have scored 90% and above in Mumbai. It was in 2011 that the city saw over 14,000 90%-plus scorers. Because of the changes in the evaluation pattern, the numbers had dropped last year to 5,399.

Commerce and Arts Seats will be difficult in sought-after junior colleges. Parag Thakkar from HR College said the cut-offs in the fyjc first merit list 2020 will rise by 1-2% in commerce and arts courses in top colleges. Whether the rise of 90% scorers is between 90% and 95% or in the above 95% bracket will decide the cut-offs in subsequent lists too.

Many of the science students are likely to choose junior colleges offering integrated coaching for their NEET and JEE preparation, and are expected to choose a junior college which is near to their home. As the Corona pandemic is continuing in Maharashtra with big cases coming each day, parents would want their wards to choose a college near to their home. As several junior colleges offering integrated coaching are coming up in the suburbs, it will become the best choice of science students. The fyjc cut-offs 2020 are likely to rise even in these junior colleges.

The rise in scores will definitely push up cut-offs. These high scores may have an impact on the psychological well-being of students. There should be a uniform assessment policy across boards," said Ashok Wadia, principal of Jai Hind College.

Almost two lakh students in the state had sought extra marks for participation in sports and cultural events, taking the total number of students with the perfect score to 242. In Mumbai alone, 32,000 have managed to get those extra marks.

Another Prinicpal said, "Artificial inflation of marks has become a norm across boards. It is difficult to assess the actual capabilities of a child when every board is joining the rat race. No board has managed to set a benchmark for others to follow. Students scoring 90% are also facing dejection as they don't manage to secure a seat in a college of their choice. Where are we headed?"

Due to the Corona pandemic, this year first-year junior college (FYJC) admissions are completely online, the education department will also launch a mobile application to help students fill application forms easily. Meanwhile, Part I of the form-filling process for FYJC admissions started on August 1.