Students slam Mumbai varsity decision to start admissions

The Mumbai University on Monday evening issued a circular of schedule for degree admissions, indicating the beginning of the process, even though CBSE and ICSE Class 12 results have not been declared yet.

Junior colleges offering Class 12 in CBSE and ICSE curriculum have started receiving frantic calls from students and parents after they got to know about the circular. (File)

The Mumbai University’s decision to begin admissions to undergraduate courses without CBSE and ICSE students has caused major panic and confusion. While students and parents are worried about missing out on equal admission opportunity, the different admission processes adopted by city colleges is expected to cause more confusion.

The Mumbai University on Monday evening issued a circular of schedule for degree admissions, indicating the beginning of the process, even though CBSE and ICSE Class 12 results have not been declared yet.

Junior colleges offering Class 12 in CBSE and ICSE curriculum have started receiving frantic calls from students and parents after they got to know about the circular. “Students and parents are understandably anxious regarding degree admissions,” said the principal of a popular CBSE junior college from the suburbs.

“This is totally unfair. There has already been much ambiguity throughout the academic year due to the pandemic,” said Aditi Jha, a student who has appeared for CBSE Class 12 exam.

“This one time when HSC result is declared sooner, CBSE and ICSE students are left behind for no fault of theirs,” said a parent from a suburban junior college, adding that currently parents are in the process of uniting before a further plan of action is decided.

Due to the pandemic, both these boards implemented a new pattern of two-term exams, instead of one exam held annually. The second term exam was completed just a few days ago in June and the results are awaited.

“After the pandemic, the entire academic year is in a stage of recovery. It is unfair to leave a set of students behind to start admissions sooner. They too have equal rights to compete for seats in colleges of their choice,” said Kalpana Dwivedi, principal of Bal Bharati School, which offers CBSE curriculum. While the circular is being heavily criticised for being unfair and discriminatory, city colleges in city have taken different approaches to the admission process, which many fear is going to cause more confusion.

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For instance, K C College has decided to go ahead as per the varsity’s schedule and conduct a second phase of admissions after the CBSE and ICSE board results are out. “Based on statistics of the past few years, we can estimate the number of seats to be kept aside for the second phase of admissions,” said Dr Hemlata Bagla, vice-chancellor of HSNC University and Principal of K C College.

According to authorities of N M College, where except the traditional BCom course, all other admissions will be based on entrance tests, the varsity’s circular does not have a major impact.

Pallavi Smart

Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting. Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive: Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses). Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers. Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis). Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students. Credentials & Trustworthiness Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized. Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families. She tweets @Pallavi_Smart ... Read More

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