Govt discusses centralised FYJC admissions

May 6: While the matter of centralisation of degree college admissions is still pending before the Bombay high court, the state government ...

May 6: While the matter of centralisation of degree college admissions is still pending before the Bombay high court, the state government is already exploring the possibility of implementing centralisation at the FYJC level itself.

State Education Minister Sudhir Joshi and Minister of Higher and Technical Education Datta Rane met in Mantralaya on Monday to discuss the matter. Talking to Express Newsline on Tuesday, Joshi said: “We did conduct an informal meeting to discuss how the state should proceed with the centralisation policy.”

Asked if they had considered the point of those students who were demanding that they should be automatically admitted from junior college to the senior college of their institutions, Joshi replied that that was one of the reasons why they wanted to introduce centralisation at FYJC level.

Story continues below this ad

The Principal Secretary of Higher and Technical Education, N L Lakhanpal, who was also present at the Monday meeting, said: “Last year a few private colleges had moved court in protest against the state’s proposed centralisation of degree admissions. However, though they managed to get an interim stay on the policy, the court will now give a fresh verdict this year.”

Lakhanpal added that since the verdict is still awaited, the state may move court soon in view of the urgency of the issue, as the admission season will begin again in June this year.

Over 90,000 candidates apply for FYJC seats in arts, science and commerce streams in 96 colleges in Mumbai and Thane regions.