Students From MMR Will Be Considered ‘Locals’ For Junior College Admissions
Anahita Mukherji | TNN
Mumbai: Quotas will be back in junior college admissions, but in a far more palatable format. While the previous 70:30 reservation policy, which made it mandatory for all junior colleges to reserve 70 per cent seats for students from the same district, had students crying all the way, the new system has provided some solace.
The earlier policy divided Mumbai into three districts—South Mumbai, suburbs and Greater Mumbai— the government has now announced that the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region will be considered a single district. Last year, when the policy was announced, students from the suburbs found themselves at a disadvantage while applying to South Mumbai colleges, as they could not make it in the local quota. Similar was the case with Thane students applying to Mumbai colleges. That will change this year.
Both teachers and students agreed the new rule was more student-friendly. “Expanding the 70 per cent quota to include students from the MMR will include a wider selection for colleges,” said Kirti Narain, principal of Jai Hind College, Churchgate. “It will be good for all students, whether or not they live near colleges of their choice,” said Shivika Poonglia, a Class X student from Fort.
“If colleges are unable to fill in 30 per cent of the seats with outside students, they can fill in the vacant seats with local students. The same goes for the 70 per cent quota,’’ said state education secretary Sanjay Kumar.
For Mumbai students, it will mean stiff competition for a junior college seat, as they will have to compete with students from Thane and Navi Mumbai in the local quota. “This system will make it tough for Mumbai students to get a seat in a good college,’’ felt Vishesh Sharma, a class X student from Andheri.
Students from other parts of the country, such as Delhi or Bangalore, will benefit from the system as they will only compete with other students from outside the region and not the brightest students from Mumbai while applying to a college. The cutoff will be different for local students and outside students.
The 70:30 reservation policy, based on a little-known government resolution passed in 2003, came to prominence in 2008 thanks to parents of a student who didn’t get admission in the first merit list. The government then asked colleges to follow the order. Thane corporator Pratap Sarnaik filed a PIL against the 70:30 system in the High Court last year, after which the government withdrew the order, faced with stiff resistance from the public.
WHO WINS OR LOSES COLABA THEN: While applying to a South Mumbai college, a Colaba student would have had an edge over his suburban counterparts as there was a 70 per cent reservation for students from the South Mumbai district. If applying to a suburban college, he would have been at a disadvantage as suburban students would have been given preference.
NOW: The Colaba student will be part of the 70 per cent quota for local students, irrespective of the college he applies to, within Mumbai city, suburbs as well as Navi Mumbai and beyond. But seat in a South Mumbai college might get a trifle tough as he will be competing with students from the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region, including Navi Mumbai and Thane.
BORIVALI THEN: The Borivali student was at a distinct disadvantage while applying to South Mumbai colleges, including those in Sion and Matunga. He would only be able to apply under the 30 per cent quota set aside for students from outside the district. He would, however, have an edge while applying to suburban colleges.
NOW: The student will not only be part of the 70 per cent quota for locals in suburban colleges, but also those in South Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane. However, with students from these regions also included in the definition of a ‘local student,’ there will be stiff competition getting into either a South Mumbai or suburban college.
THANE THEN: The student would have been at a disadvantage while applying to any college in Mumbai, whether South Mumbai or the suburbs, as he would have been considered an ‘outside’ student, for whom only 30 per cent of seats were set aside.
NOW: The student has an added advantage when compared with the previous system, as well as the regular admission system sans the 70:30 quota. He will be considered a local student when compared to a Mumbai college and will be part of the 70 per cent quota for locals.
THE OLD AND THE NEW
Under the old 70:30 quota system, Mumbai was divided into three regions, Mumbai South, Suburban and Greater Mumbai. Junior colleges had to reserve 70% seats for students from the same district. Under the new system, the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region, which includes parts of Thane and Navi Mumbai as well, will be part of the same region.
RESERVATIONS ABOUT A RESOLUTION
2003: The state government passed a resolution making it mandatory for junior colleges to reserve 70% seats for students from the district
Early July 2008: Parents of a student who did not make it to the first merit list dug out the little-known resolution and approached the education department. The government then sent a circular to all colleges asking them to implement the rule
July 5: Several colleges delayed releasing the second merit list as they were unsure about how to implement it
July 8: Thane municipal corporator Pratap Sarnaik filed a petition in the High Court against the rule
July 9: The High Court stayed all junior college admissions after the petition was filed
July 14, 2008: Faced with public ire, the government withdrew its petition even before it could be heard in court
STUDENT FROM OUTSIDE THE MMR
Such a student will not be considered part of the local quota, both in Mumbai or those parts of Thane or Navi Mumbai that fall within MMR. Those who fall within the MMR will get lucky, but those just outside the region will have missed the bus, which leaves them no different from last time.
STUDENT FROM OTHER STATES
Since Mumbai colleges do not usually get more than 30 per cent of students applying from outside the city, those who do will be at an advantage as nearly all will fit in the quota reserved for them. What’s more, they will no longer need to compete with the best students from within Mumbai for a seat as the cut-offs for them will be different.
The earlier policy divided Mumbai into three districts—South Mumbai, suburbs and Greater Mumbai— the government has now announced that the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region will be considered a single district. Last year, when the policy was announced, students from the suburbs found themselves at a disadvantage while applying to South Mumbai colleges, as they could not make it in the local quota. Similar was the case with Thane students applying to Mumbai colleges. That will change this year.
Both teachers and students agreed the new rule was more student-friendly. “Expanding the 70 per cent quota to include students from the MMR will include a wider selection for colleges,” said Kirti Narain, principal of Jai Hind College, Churchgate. “It will be good for all students, whether or not they live near colleges of their choice,” said Shivika Poonglia, a Class X student from Fort.
“If colleges are unable to fill in 30 per cent of the seats with outside students, they can fill in the vacant seats with local students. The same goes for the 70 per cent quota,’’ said state education secretary Sanjay Kumar.
For Mumbai students, it will mean stiff competition for a junior college seat, as they will have to compete with students from Thane and Navi Mumbai in the local quota. “This system will make it tough for Mumbai students to get a seat in a good college,’’ felt Vishesh Sharma, a class X student from Andheri.
Students from other parts of the country, such as Delhi or Bangalore, will benefit from the system as they will only compete with other students from outside the region and not the brightest students from Mumbai while applying to a college. The cutoff will be different for local students and outside students.
The 70:30 reservation policy, based on a little-known government resolution passed in 2003, came to prominence in 2008 thanks to parents of a student who didn’t get admission in the first merit list. The government then asked colleges to follow the order. Thane corporator Pratap Sarnaik filed a PIL against the 70:30 system in the High Court last year, after which the government withdrew the order, faced with stiff resistance from the public.
WHO WINS OR LOSES COLABA THEN: While applying to a South Mumbai college, a Colaba student would have had an edge over his suburban counterparts as there was a 70 per cent reservation for students from the South Mumbai district. If applying to a suburban college, he would have been at a disadvantage as suburban students would have been given preference.
NOW: The Colaba student will be part of the 70 per cent quota for local students, irrespective of the college he applies to, within Mumbai city, suburbs as well as Navi Mumbai and beyond. But seat in a South Mumbai college might get a trifle tough as he will be competing with students from the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region, including Navi Mumbai and Thane.
BORIVALI THEN: The Borivali student was at a distinct disadvantage while applying to South Mumbai colleges, including those in Sion and Matunga. He would only be able to apply under the 30 per cent quota set aside for students from outside the district. He would, however, have an edge while applying to suburban colleges.
NOW: The student will not only be part of the 70 per cent quota for locals in suburban colleges, but also those in South Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane. However, with students from these regions also included in the definition of a ‘local student,’ there will be stiff competition getting into either a South Mumbai or suburban college.
THANE THEN: The student would have been at a disadvantage while applying to any college in Mumbai, whether South Mumbai or the suburbs, as he would have been considered an ‘outside’ student, for whom only 30 per cent of seats were set aside.
NOW: The student has an added advantage when compared with the previous system, as well as the regular admission system sans the 70:30 quota. He will be considered a local student when compared to a Mumbai college and will be part of the 70 per cent quota for locals.
THE OLD AND THE NEW
Under the old 70:30 quota system, Mumbai was divided into three regions, Mumbai South, Suburban and Greater Mumbai. Junior colleges had to reserve 70% seats for students from the same district. Under the new system, the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region, which includes parts of Thane and Navi Mumbai as well, will be part of the same region.
RESERVATIONS ABOUT A RESOLUTION
2003: The state government passed a resolution making it mandatory for junior colleges to reserve 70% seats for students from the district
Early July 2008: Parents of a student who did not make it to the first merit list dug out the little-known resolution and approached the education department. The government then sent a circular to all colleges asking them to implement the rule
July 5: Several colleges delayed releasing the second merit list as they were unsure about how to implement it
July 8: Thane municipal corporator Pratap Sarnaik filed a petition in the High Court against the rule
July 9: The High Court stayed all junior college admissions after the petition was filed
July 14, 2008: Faced with public ire, the government withdrew its petition even before it could be heard in court
STUDENT FROM OUTSIDE THE MMR
Such a student will not be considered part of the local quota, both in Mumbai or those parts of Thane or Navi Mumbai that fall within MMR. Those who fall within the MMR will get lucky, but those just outside the region will have missed the bus, which leaves them no different from last time.
STUDENT FROM OTHER STATES
Since Mumbai colleges do not usually get more than 30 per cent of students applying from outside the city, those who do will be at an advantage as nearly all will fit in the quota reserved for them. What’s more, they will no longer need to compete with the best students from within Mumbai for a seat as the cut-offs for them will be different.
This is a very good move, better than the manner in which the quota was earlier going to be implemented, where Mumbai was divided into the suburban and city districts. Our college was part of the South Mumbai region, but we were on the border of both districts. Now, with most of our students anyway from the MMR, I don’t think we’ll face a problem filling 70% of the seats.
K Viswanathan | TRUSTEE, SIES COLLEGE, SION
K Viswanathan | TRUSTEE, SIES COLLEGE, SION
It will be tougher for Mumbai students to get into colleges of their choice as many will not make the quota.
Vishesh Sharma | SSC STUDENT, HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL, ANDHERI
Vishesh Sharma | SSC STUDENT, HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL, ANDHERI
The new system will be good for all students, whether they stay near or far from colleges.
Shivika Poonglia | ICSE STUDENT, JB PETIT HIGH SCHOOL, FORT
Shivika Poonglia | ICSE STUDENT, JB PETIT HIGH SCHOOL, FORT
It’s good that they have taken the whole region into account as this will benefit students from the area who would have earlier had to compete with outside students who had high scores. But I don’t really think it’s necessary to have such a system. Since students from outside Mumbai with high scores apply to our college, I am sure there will not be problem filling up the 30% reservation
Fr Frazer Mascarenhas | PRINCIPAL, ST XAVIER’S COLLEGE, DHOBI TALAO
Fr Frazer Mascarenhas | PRINCIPAL, ST XAVIER’S COLLEGE, DHOBI TALAO
I am all for the 70% reservation for local students but I hope that the 30% seats reserved for outside students will not be rigidly implemented, since more than 85% of the students who apply to my college are local students. If the 30% reservation for outside students is rigidly implemented, then the cut -off for these students will be a lot lower than the cut-off for the local students. This will be an injustice to the locals. Dr Kiran Mangaonkar | PRINCIPAL, MITHIBAI COLLEGE, VILE PARLE
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