Rural Students Struggle as Online 11th Admission Process Faces Technical Glitches

The fully online admission process for First Year Junior College (FYJC) admissions, implemented statewide this year, has left students—especially from rural areas of Kolhapur district—grappling with technical hurdles and poor internet connectivity. The deadline for application registration is June 3, but the process has been fraught with challenges from the outset.

Despite efforts to streamline the process via the official portal launched on May 26, applicants are encountering persistent issues such as server crashes, slow loading speeds, and payment failures. These problems are being exacerbated in rural regions, where internet infrastructure is inadequate and mobile data costs remain high.

The online admission system covers 66,010 seats across 285 junior colleges in Kolhapur district. With lakhs of students across Maharashtra attempting to register simultaneously, the website is becoming unresponsive for many. According to reports, students are spending two to three hours on a single application, with frequent interruptions during form submission and payment processes.

As per data from the Deputy Director of Education’s Office, 9,166 students have successfully completed their applications within just two days. However, a large number of students in rural zones remain stranded due to digital barriers.

Frustrated by the mounting difficulties, many parents have urged authorities to permit offline application options. They believe that if schools could offer guidance and assistance in filling out the forms, or even accept applications on-site, it would significantly reduce the stress and confusion students currently face.