The first merit list for bifocal courses
The first merit list for bifocal courses, which are more
sought after than regular ones, shows only a marginal increase of 1% over last year.
Most junior college principals are feeling like bad astrologers after the cut-offs
for first year junior college (FYJC) bifocal courses rose only marginally despite
their predictions of a solar flare. The merit list was announced on Tuesday 12th
July 2011.
The state education department's various marks giving sops such as the best five
and internal scores, among others, were expected to boost cut-offs for most courses.
However, colleges offering bifocal courses have seen barely a 1% to 0.5% difference
in cut-offs over the previous year. At most of the colleges, the cut-offs are almost
the same as last year?
At Jai Hind College in Church gate, the 94.54% cut-off for computer science and
94.18% for electronics is almost similar to the 2010 percentages. College Principal
Kirti Narain said, "I can't find the reason for this surprising situation. We were
expecting them to be really high. But let us see where they stop. Cut-offs of the
last merit list will give a better picture."
"Also, I think, there are now several colleges offering bifocal courses. The load
has been distributed this year, bringing the courses within reach of even low scorers."
Patkar College also saw only a 1% rise in the first merit list cut-off for computer
science, while that for electronics is almost the same as previous year. Principal
of the college, M. B. Kenkare, said, "I am guessing there are not many students in
the 97% to 100% slab. Hence, many low scorers got a chance to pursue bifocal courses,
bringing down the cut-offs to a similar range as last year."
National Junior College principal Dr. Bhandarkar said, "There isn't much difference,
just a 1% increase in the cut-offs for both the bifocal courses offered at our college."
Harsha Mehta, principal of SIES College said, "The merit list declared on Tuesday
is contrary to our expectations, considering the good results." SIES College has
seen just 1% rise in cut-offs for both the courses offered computer science and
electronics.
Interestingly, Jhunjhunwala College recorded a marginal. 5% dip in cut-offs for
the bifocal courses offered by it.
Minority institutes in the city are even more surprised to see that their offline
cut-offs were higher than the online admission round for general candidates conducted
thereafter. Minority colleges have separate merit lists.
Mehta of SIES, which has a south Indian minority preference, stated, "After completing
the offline admission rounds for applicants under the minority quota, we were expecting
much higher cut-offs for the online round of bifocal admissions. However, surprisingly,
they are lower than the minority cut-offs, though marginally."
Usha Mujumdar, principal of Jhunjhunwala College, which has a Gujarati minority
preference, had a similar experience. "Firstly, in our college, cut-offs for bifocal
courses are lower than last year. And if we compare them with the offline admissions
for bifocal courses, they were a little higher than the online round."
Courtesy: DNA India
