The admission process for First Year Junior College (FYJC) in Maharashtra, which resumed on Monday, has witnessed alarmingly low enrolment numbers across rural regions of the state. While urban areas reported a relatively smooth and systematic resumption, colleges in rural districts are grappling with significant logistical and infrastructural barriers, particularly related to internet connectivity and access to digital resources.
In several rural colleges, the turnout has been discouragingly low. One college reported receiving just five applications throughout the day, while another recorded only six. This trend of minimal participation was observed across various parts of rural Maharashtra, indicating a wider systemic issue affecting the admission process.
The challenges faced by students in these areas are multifaceted. Vijay Parmalkar, Principal of K.S.D. Thakar Secondary and K. Narayan K. Junior College in Dhadgaon, which recorded only six applications, shed light on the arduous journey many students must undertake to access admission centres. “Students have to walk for 4-5 kilometres, then take a bus to reach the centre, which is approximately 40 kilometres away. Still, they could only complete half of the form due to internet issues. Will they come back all the way to complete the entire registration?” he said.
The situation is further exacerbated by a lack of basic digital infrastructure. In many cases, students do not possess personal mobile phones or have access to the internet. A principal from Sindhudurg district shared that he and his colleagues resorted to carrying laptops to locations with stable internet connectivity in an attempt to register students manually.
“Let alone mobile phones or internet connectivity, most of the students do not have their personal email ID created. We made it from scratch, but the problem persists. The communication related to admission will come on this email, which they will not have access to,” he explained, adding that despite these efforts, only five applications were received at their centre.
The Junior College Teachers’ Federation has also raised serious concerns, criticising the current online system as impractical for rural students. According to the Federation, poor internet connectivity, lack of personal devices, and limited knowledge of digital procedures are creating an unequal playing field.
“Accessing the online admission system is not just difficult — it’s impossible for many,” said Mukund Aandhalkar, State Coordinator of the Junior College Teachers’ Federation. “We’re not just talking about digital literacy here. Lakhs of students in rural Maharashtra don’t even own a mobile phone, let alone have internet access to complete the process.”
He further highlighted that cyber cafes are taking advantage of the situation by charging exorbitant fees, thereby turning the admission process into a financial burden for already struggling families.
The digital divide between urban and rural Maharashtra has thus come into stark focus once again, raising questions about the accessibility and inclusivity of online-only admission procedures. As authorities push forward with digital reforms in education, these ground-level challenges call for urgent redressal to ensure that no student is left behind due to infrastructural limitations.
