Nagpur: Round-1 of the Common Admission Process (CAP) for state board junior colleges concluded on Tuesday night with only 20% of the seats in Nagpur city being filled. Out of the approximately 53,000 seats available, around 10,000 were occupied, with science stream accounting for over 70% of the admissions.
The dominance of science stream in the admission process does not come as a surprise as Nagpur has emerged as a coaching classes hub for JEE and NEET exams. Many students prefer state board colleges due to their tie-up with coaching institutes, which makes the admission process easier for them. As a result, science admissions have been consistently higher. However, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of students opting for the commerce stream in recent years.
Senior academics have acknowledged this trend, stating that students prefer the state board over CBSE. Vandana Benjamin, a senior academic, highlighted the convenience of tie-ups between state board colleges and coaching institutes as a major factor in attracting students. On the other hand, Ketki Siras, another senior academic, agreed that the state board’s curriculum is more aligned with coaching classes’ curriculum.
Jaspal Singh, a veteran academic, pointed out that the natural inclination towards the science stream is driven by the prominence of JEE and NEET exams. While state board schools are preferred due to their association with coaching classes, CBSE curriculum is more closely aligned with NCERT.
Another academic, Vijay Kewalramani, explained that students find the CBSE syllabus more challenging compared to the state board syllabus, leading them to opt for state board schools.
Parents also shared their perspectives, with Jaya Bhowmik emphasizing that students have become more career-oriented and don’t have time for co-curricular activities, making state boards a more suitable choice. Aditya Hirulkar, a student, highlighted the absence of compulsory attendance in the state board as a benefit that allows better preparation for competitive examinations.
While the CAP round concluded with only 20% of the seats filled, more rounds will follow. On average, Nagpur manages to fill up to 65% of the total seats. The dominance of science stream admissions and the preference for state board colleges in Nagpur reflect the city’s status as a hub for JEE and NEET coaching. However, the increasing interest in commerce stream studies indicates a diversification in students’ choices.
