90:10: Class XI admissions only after verdict

In a crucial development on Saturday,the education department decided to stay the bifocal admissions as the final decision on 90:10 formula has not yet come. The hearing of the case continued on Saturday in the Bombay High Court and is expected to continue on Monday too.

“The provisional merit list for 3,725 seats of bifocal courses was scheduled to be out on Monday. However,as per the directions of the education department we have to hold it,” said D C Nevse,deputy district vocational education and training officer.

The Pune division of education department received the message on the stay on the schedule on Saturday evening. The department then decided to hold an urgent meeting on Sunday. There is every possibility that the admission process will be delayed by three to four days or even a week.

When contacted,D N Sheth,principal of S P College,who is executive chairman of the admission process of class XI in Pune,did not deny the possibility. “Admissions may get slightly delayed. The process of preparing the merit list will continue and as soon as the decision on 90:10 formula comes,we will display it,” he said.

Meanwhile,this year,the number of applications received have reduced by 10,000 compared to the to the total seats available in the city.

There are 57,460 seats available for class XI in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad but,only 47,214 applications were received. While the response to science and commerce (English medium) stream was overwhelming,arts stream witnessed a record low response with only 731 students applying for 2,980 seats. Including arts (Marathi),this year around 8,000 seats of arts stream will remain vacant.