Mumbai University to start admissions before CBSE, ISC results

MUMBAI: In what could lead to confusion and anxiety among Class XII students of the national boards (CBSE and ISC) still awaiting their results, Mumbai University on Monday decided to go ahead with degree college admissions, reports Yogita Rao.
After the schedule was released late evening, college principals feared chaos and school principals denounced the decision as discriminatory. The university circular said all colleges, including autonomous ones, will have to admit students only as per sanctioned intake. "The colleges may get permission for additional seats to admit CBSE and ICSE board students as per college merit cut-off in due course," it added.
‘Discriminatory, students may go to court over MU admission decision’
Students from CBSE and ISC schools make up only 4-5% of the total aspirants applying to Mumbai University, said an official. But a principal pointed out that in some of the city’s top-rung colleges, they take up almost 40- 50% seats in sought-after courses. “If admissions are based on HSC only, the cut-offs will be lower. A lot of CBSE and ISC students will become eligible in these top colleges. How many students can these colleges accommodate later? There should be space to start extra divisions,” said a principal, adding students may move court against the decision.
Some of the autonomous degree colleges are taking entrance tests, and plan to give weightage to class XII scores. CBSE and ISC results are unlikely to come before July 10, say school principals. Zeenat Bhojabhoy, senior advisor, Jamnabai Narsee School, said the decision will cause agony. “The decision is totally discriminatory. Exams and results are delayed because of Covid-19. Students are already hassled. Internationally, provisional admissions are given to students.
Mumbai University can probably adopt the same system. ISC exams just got over and teachers are still correcting papers,” she said. Kalpana Dwivedi, principal, Bal Bharati Public School (CBSE), said it is just a matter of a fortnight. “Admissions get delayed every year for various reasons, why is there a hurry to start admissions early this year? Every student needs to be given a fair chance based on merit,” she said, adding CBSE and ISC students are also residents of Maharashtra and the government has to consider it.
Hemlata Bagla, vice-chancellor of HSNC University that includes KC and HR colleges, said they had planned to wait for all the results, but might have to rethink it. “It is better for students if all colleges come out with the cut-offs on the same date. It will help them make a better choice,” she said. Jai Hind College principal Ashok Wadia said they will take a call after discussions. “We decided to conduct entrance tests for self-financed courses to give a fair chance to all students,” he said.
Fifty percent weightage will be given to board scores. St Xavier’s College also gives 40% weightage to board scores. NM and Mithibai are not planning to give weightage to board scores in self-financed courses