‘Forget internet, we barely have mobile network’: In rural Maharashtra, questions raised over need for online FYJC admission system

Maruti Dhobale, principal of Adimaya Shakti Vidyalay in Inglun, a tribal-dominated village in Junnar taluka, Pune district, said, “Forget internet, we barely have reliable mobile networks. Now, to access this online system, students are forced to travel 20 to 30 km to the taluka centre just to find the internet or a cybercafé. They will have to do this multiple times — to apply, check merit lists, and confirm admissions. It is completely unfair when earlier they could just walk to a nearby college and secure a seat.” Dhobale noted that in rural areas, students usually opt for the nearest junior college to avoid hassles in commuting.

Dhobale pointed out that there are only two junior colleges in Junnar taluka, making it completely unnecessary to have a centralised online system for admissions.

Similar concerns have been raised in other rural parts of the state, where infrastructure limitations such as poor internet access and frequent power outages have made the process highly impractical.

In Konkan, students and parents are already anxious as the application process is set to resume on Monday. “There has been no proper electricity in rural Sindhudurg for three days due to heavy rain,” said Prashant Palav, a teacher from Avlegaon Junior College in Kudal. “How are students supposed to fill out forms online without power or internet? Those who turn to cyber cafés are being charged Rs 200. It has become a business, and banners are put up in nearby areas, due to a lack of awareness of the system,” he said.

Beyond accessibility, many have raised concerns about the lack of clear guidance and training. “Even schools and junior colleges have not received any formal instructions. We are clueless when parents come to us with queries,” Dhobale added.

Sachin Parulkar, a parent from Vengurla taluka in Konkan, described the process as burdensome. “If any document is missing, we have to return home and come back — which could mean another 30 km trip. All this just for a seat in a junior college where there is no competition,” he said.

Some institutions have taken it upon themselves to raise awareness. S V Thakar High School and K N Junior College in Dhadgaon taluka, Nandurbar, have put up banners asking Class 10 students to visit and learn about the new system. But teacher Vijay Parmalkar said the response has been poor. “Many students come from tribal villages over 40 km inside the hills. They are unaware that the process has changed. Most will simply show up in June to confirm admissions as per the conventional practice,” he said. Parmalkar highlighted that in their district, junior colleges start by mid-June, but this delay in the online system will now further delay their academic year.

Mukund Aandhalkar, state coordinator of the Junior College Teachers’ Federation, has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging a rollback of the statewide expansion. Former Maharashtra School Principals’ Association head, Mahendra Ganpule, echoed these concerns and said, “If this had to be done, it could have been done in a phased manner and with proper training to schools.”