Colleges question timing as another special round for FYJC online admissions announced

Even then the decision was opposed as junior colleges had pointed out that this delay will have serious impact on academics.

Maharashtra’s school education department has announced another special round for First Year Junior College (FYJC) admissions. Teachers from junior colleges, however, question the timing because half of the current academic year is already over.

Late on Monday, the Directorate of Education (Secondary) issued a letter addressed to deputy directors of education in eight urban areas of Maharashtra–Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur, Amravati, Latur, Nashik, Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar–informing them about another special round of FYJC admission. Stating that a final special round for FYJC admissions was held between December 13 to 17, 2025, the letter adds that there are still some students who are either not allotted seat or have not confirmed admission on allotted seats, after that round.

“For such students, the offices of Deputy Director of Education should publicise another special round of admissions at their levels. While available seats should be publicized on January 6 and 7, 2026, interested students should be contacted on phone between January 8 to 10, 2026 and their admission should be completed through online process,” states the letter.

The move, however, has drawn criticism because just last month in December, one special round was held for FYJC admissions as few hundreds of students were without a seat. Even then the decision was opposed as junior colleges had pointed out that this delay will have serious impact on academics. “But to our shock, now they have announced another special round. Even if some of these students managed to get admission now, what is the point of it as within just a couple of months this academic year will be over and classes for Class 12 will begin soon,” said a senior teacher from a junior college in Mumbai.

Further noting that there are no seats left in popular colleges anymore, another teacher said, “These admissions will be in leftover seats. With this much delay in admissions, how are these students going to cope with academics that they have missed and be ready to study for Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination?” The teacher further pointed out how all these late admissions are only in junior colleges located in urban areas, whereas online admission process was extended to the entire state this year.