It's advantage SSC in Maharashtra

Mumbai: Having scored 92 per cent in her 10th standard ICSE examinations, Aditi Ahuja was confident of getting into a college of her choice. But, not anymore.

The state government's decision to allow only 10 per cent seats for non-state board students, reserving 90 per cent of its seats for state board students has come as a blow.

"After studying hard day and night now this. It's going to hamper our career," Aditi said.

The state's decision will impact nearly 15,000 ICSE, CBSE and IGSCE students. A shock, just two weeks before junior college admissions begin.

"The decision should have been conveyed much earlier. Not just before the results," said Perin Bagli, Secretary, Association of ICSE schools in Maharashtra.

The state government says its decision is based on numbers:

• Non-SSC students form only 5 per cent of standard 10th pass outs
• And so on paper a 10 per cent reservation does not look bad  
  

But the reservation is spread across the state though Mumbai has the highest concentration of CBSE and ICSE schools. Student of these schools will have less access to the cities colleges and will be forced to the fringes of Thane and Raigad.

The government's response to criticism, of course comes like this. "Let the CBSE and ICSE boards start their own 11th and 12th standards," put forth Vikhe Patil.