More SSC students make it to merit list

The state government’s Best-Five policy seems to have worked, with more state board (SSC) students finding place in the first merit list of the city’s top colleges.

The state government’s Best-Five policy seems to have worked, with more state board (SSC) students finding place in the first merit list of the city’s top colleges.

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Earlier, most top slots in coveted colleges would go to ICSE and CBSE students.

The education department declared the list of the bifocal or vocational courses in the science and commerce streams on Friday evening.

“Now, the list has a mix of state board students as well as other board students,” said Kirti Narain, principal, Jai Hind College, Churchgate. “The Best-Five scheme coupled with the 25 marks for sports, an extra three marks for SSC students who played at the state level, has given SSC students the required push.”

Colleges have not tallied the exact number of SSC students in their first merit lists as that number of SSC students making the cut could be gauged from those who came to pay their fees on Saturday. It will be confirmed only after all first list students secure admission. But principals said this rise will also set the trend for the general lists for arts, science and commerce.

Only 31,131 out of the total of 2,60,859 online applicants had sought admission in vocational courses. There are 12,533 seats in these courses in the Mumbai region.

While the cut-offs for vocational courses have always been high because of the demand, this year there has been a rise of one to three percentage points from last year.

Principals said the Best-Five policy would reflect more in the second and third list, as the cut-offs get lower and more students compete for fewer seats.

The online admissions committee has asked colleges to call up students who do not take admission in their preferred colleges by Monday despite being on the first merit list. "We want to know why they did not secure the seat and whether it was because they were unaware about how the system works," said Swapna Durve, supervisor of Mithibai College.