The Maharashtra school education department has ignited fresh controversy by announcing yet another special round for First Year Junior College (FYJC) online admissions in January 2026. This decision has been met with sharp criticism from teachers and college administrators who argue that with half the academic year already over, the move is too little, too late, and will severely disrupt academics.
Details of the Late Admission Directive
On Monday, January 5, 2026, the Directorate of Education (Secondary) issued a formal letter to the deputy directors of education in eight key urban regions of Maharashtra. These regions include Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur, Amravati, Latur, Nashik, Nagpur, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
The directive acknowledges that a final special round was already conducted between December 13 and 17, 2025. However, it states that some students remain without a confirmed seat. To address this, the department has ordered another round. The available seats are to be publicized on January 6 and 7, 2026, with phone contact for interested students scheduled for January 8 to 10, 2026. Admissions for these students will then be finalized through the online process.
Academic Impact and College Concerns
This announcement marks the second such intervention in a short span, following a special round held just last month in December 2025 for a few hundred seatless students. Even that earlier decision was opposed by junior colleges on grounds of academic disruption.
"But to our shock, now they have announced another special round," expressed a senior teacher from a Mumbai junior college. "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."
Educators highlight a critical logistical flaw: popular colleges have no vacancies left. "These admissions will be in leftover seats," noted another teacher. "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 the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination?"
Geographical Disparity in the Process
An additional point of contention raised is the geographical limitation of these late admissions. Despite the online admission process being extended statewide this year, these special rounds are only being facilitated for junior colleges located in urban areas. This has raised questions about equitable access and support for students in rural regions who might also be facing similar admission issues.
The repeated delays and last-minute rounds have created a significant academic dilemma, forcing colleges to integrate students midway through the syllabus while casting doubt on the preparedness of these late-admitted students for crucial board examinations.
