Std XI admissions: 64% seats vacant with just one more round to go

Nagpur: The city may be heading towards its worst performance in Std XI admissions through Common Admission Procedure (CAP), as 64% seats are still vacant with just one round of admissions left. Many academics say that it’s highly unlikely that the final round, officially called as Special Round, will be able to cover the deficit.
Ravindra Fadnavis, a senior academic who has always questioned the futility of CAP in Nagpur, said, “This year a dubious record will be created as more than half the seats will remain vacant in the city.Even after the final round and consolidation of some seats, there is no way that they will be able to cover up more than 10 percentage points. So, approximately 50%-55% seats in Nagpur will have no takers this time.”
He added that usually the vacant seat figures are usually around the 40% marks.
Ashok Gavhankar, general secretary of Vidarbha Junior College Teachers Association, has been another vocal critic of CAP. Speaking to TOI earlier, Gavhankar said, “CAP or CET must be held when there are more candidates as compared to the seats on offer. So, it makes absolutely sense that admissions are given on merit basis. In Nagpur ever year we see 20,000 seats going vacant, and this year it might reach a record-breaking number, so what is the point of having CAP?”
CAP is mandatory for all state board affiliated junior colleges located within city limits. The state education department conducts CAP online in a few urban centres like Mumbai, Pune etc.
Since it’s a state government initiative, can Nagpur alone back out of CAP? Fadnavis says it is possible. “This year itself Aurangabad moved out of CAP’s ambit. The local colleges there lobbied with public representatives and then a presentation was made to the local education officials. They were able to convince those in Mantralaya and the official notification was issued. So, I believe that even in Nagpur we can implement the same,” said Fadnavis.
Another academic, who did not wish to be identified, said, “The problem clearly is oversupply of seats in both rural and urban areas. Students are flocking to junior colleges located just outside of Nagpur city because of coaching class tie-ups, and hence the pressure on city colleges has reduced drastically.”
Special Round of CAP starts on Saturday and will end on September 25. The education department in an offiical note has stated that “this may be the last round”.