Pune: A substantial 34.92% of seats in the centralized admission process for 11th grade in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad have remained unoccupied, according to the latest figures released by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education.
The primary reasons include a preference for colleges with ties to private coaching classes and the growing trend of choosing colleges outside municipal limits where attendance policies are more lenient.
Out of the total 120,805 seats available across 343 junior colleges in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, only 65.08% of the seats have been filled, leaving 42,187 seats vacant.
The admission process for the 2024-2025 academic year is now officially closed, according to Dr. Jyoti Parihar, Assistant Director of Education and Member Secretary of the Centralized Admission Committee.
A total of 103,839 students had registered online for admission, but only 78,618 students confirmed their enrollment in junior colleges.
Furthermore, 15,940 students who participated in the admission process chose not to take admission. Under the Centralized Admission Process (CAP), 104,160 seats were available, with 69,218 students securing admissions. This leaves 34,942 CAP seats unfilled.
The board has attributed the vacant seats to multiple factors. Many students and their parents prefer colleges that are tied to private coaching institutes for better exam preparation.
Additionally, colleges located outside the municipal limits, where attendance is not strictly enforced, have become more attractive options for students. Another key factor is the rising interest in diploma and ITI (Industrial Training Institute) courses over the conventional 11th-grade curriculum.
“Junior colleges have been granted approvals for additional sections, which has increased the number of available seats, and this has resulted in a higher percentage of vacant seats.
Furthermore, students are increasingly opting for diploma and ITI programs, which is also contributing to the vacant seats in the centralized admission process,” said Dr. Jyoti Parihar, Assistant Director of Education, Pune Division.