Mumbai: The Higher and Technical Education Department of Maharashtra has come under criticism for the delayed release of its annual scholarship advertisement for students seeking higher education abroad. Despite hundreds of students preparing well in advance for the September intake, the department has yet to announce the schedule for 2025.
In a letter addressed to Vinod Mohitkar, Director of the Higher and Technical Education Department, Kuldeep Ambekar, president of Student Helping Hands, expressed disappointment over the recurring delay. “It is extremely important to release the schedule on time for students from the open category who are going abroad for higher education,” he wrote. “However, compared to other departments, your department is the last to publish the advertisement every year.”
According to Ambekar, the delay often results in missed opportunities. “Students are unable to go abroad for the September intake since the advertisement is released only in the month of September,” he pointed out. “This leads to significant academic and financial losses.”
The department provides scholarships to 40 students annually, yet the full quota remains initialised. “In the academic year 2024–25, only 25 students were able to avail this opportunity,” he noted, adding that while the OBC and SC departments have already released their advertisements, the Technical Education Department has not followed suit.
“Will all the slots be filled this year? And exactly when will the advertisement be released?” Ambekar questioned, highlighting that students spend months preparing documents, managing finances, and even paying deposits to foreign universities in anticipation of support from the state.
Several students have also voiced frustration over the uncertainty. A student who has received an offer letter from a university in the United Kingdom said, “We have to pay deposits and confirm our places well in advance. Without clarity on the scholarship, it's hard to make decisions. Many of us are stuck between taking a financial risk or losing a year.”
Another student, who secured admission to a French university, said, “I’ve been waiting for the scholarship announcement for months. I planned everything around it — my visa, accommodation, and course timelines. This delay is creating unnecessary stress.”
Another aspirant, who hopes to study in Australia, added, “It feels unfair that students from other categories have already received clarity, while we’re left in the dark. We’re not asking for special treatment — just a fair and timely process.”
Ambekar also criticised the absence of a consistent government schedule. “Unfortunately, to date, the state government has not announced a fixed timeline for these international scholarship schemes,” he said. “Despite the existence of a government resolution laying down uniform and inclusive criteria for all such schemes, it is regrettable that the Higher and Technical Education Department is not implementing it effectively,” he wrote in his letter to Mohitkar.
