Pune: In a significant development, 67% of seats for the First Year Junior College (FYJC) or 11th admissions in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad remain unfilled as the new academic year progresses.

A growing preference for ITI and Polytechnic diploma courses, coupled with students focusing on entrance exams for higher education, has led to this situation.

Despite the centralized admission process for 1,20,165 seats in 342 junior colleges in the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation areas, only 32,926 seats have been filled, leaving 68,542 seats vacant.

The first three regular admission rounds have concluded, and the first special round is currently ongoing. The number of vacant seats is expected to rise as management, in-house, and minority quota seats return for the special round.

Some colleges, particularly smaller and less reputed ones, have seen a sudden increase in their cut-off marks due to tie-ups with private coaching classes.

Many high-scoring students preparing for JEE and NEET entrance exams prefer these smaller colleges due to the flexibility and discounts offered, thereby declining admissions in reputed colleges.

The mandatory attendance policy in reputed colleges has led many students and parents to opt for 'tie-up' colleges. As a result, 50 to 60% of seats in many reputed colleges remain vacant.

Additionally, the culture of private coaching classes has led students and parents to choose colleges that accommodate coaching class schedules.

Furthermore, a lack of sufficient teachers in unaided colleges has led students to avoid these institutions, contributing to the high number of vacant seats in the eleventh standard, as explained by education expert Dr. A. L. Deshmukh.