Despite the release of three merit lists through the Bihar Board’s OFSS system, more than 8,000 seats for Class 11 admission in Muzaffarpur are still vacant. The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) released three rounds of merit lists for Intermediate admission across Science, Arts, and Commerce streams. Yet, several schools and colleges continue to report seat vacancies in large numbers.

According to the latest figures, many institutions have between 40 and 200 vacant seats. The board has now directed all schools and colleges to conduct on-spot admissions for the remaining seats. Students were allowed to apply for on-spot admission until Tuesday. Based on these applications, the admission process will begin from 6 August across the respective institutions.

OFSS 2025: BSEB’s Online Admission Process Struggles to Fill Seats

The Bihar Board’s OFSS (Online Facilitation System for Students) is the centralized platform for Intermediate admissions. The first, second, and third merit lists were published to ensure transparent and timely admissions. Despite this effort, the response in Muzaffarpur has been less than expected. This has left a significant number of seats unfilled, raising questions about student preferences, institutional outreach, and possible mismatch in stream selection.

Many institutions are now relying solely on the on-spot admission window to fill their seats. According to BSEB’s schedule, schools and colleges will start admitting students based on these applications from 6 August onwards.

Massive Seat Vacancies in Science Stream Despite Multiple Rounds

The Science stream has been hit the hardest, with several popular schools showing hundreds of unfilled seats. In Prabhat Tara School, 256 Science seats remain vacant even after three rounds of selection. Similarly, Abeda High School still has 120 open seats in Science. Other institutions facing similar shortages include BCBBD College with 195 vacant seats and Chapman Girls High School with 90 seats still open.

Kudhni Project School has 106 vacancies, while Narma High School reports 82. Kamtoul High School has 102 open seats, Kanta Project School reports 114, and Chandwara Urdu Girls School still has 120 Science seats vacant. These numbers reflect a considerable shortfall, suggesting either poor outreach or a gap in student interest for the Science stream in certain institutions.

Arts Stream: High Demand, Fewer Vacant Seats

In contrast to Science and Commerce, the Arts stream has seen the highest number of admissions. Most schools and colleges offering Arts have only 5 to 10 vacant seats remaining. Some institutions, however, still report noticeable gaps.

At Abeda High School and Inter College Chandrahatti, 120 Arts seats each are unfilled. MSKB has 49 seats open, while BB Collegiate School and Zila School both report 35 seats still vacant. The relatively lower vacancy in the Arts stream indicates either a strong student preference for this faculty or more effective institutional coordination during the earlier rounds.

Commerce Stream Faces Major Shortfall, Half of the Seats Still Unfilled

The Commerce stream presents a different challenge altogether. In several colleges, nearly 50 percent of the Commerce seats remain unoccupied, even after three rounds of admissions.

BCBBD College alone has 352 Commerce seats still vacant. Purushottampur High School reports 100 unfilled seats in the same stream. Kanti Project Girls School has 118 vacancies, and Turki Inter College has 245 seats waiting to be filled.

Other institutions struggling with high Commerce seat vacancies include Pier High School with 117 seats, Marwari High School with 197, Motipur High School with 114, and Bochaha Unsar High School with 109 Commerce seats still unoccupied. These figures reflect a systemic issue in attracting students to Commerce, possibly due to lack of awareness or interest in the stream among students in Muzaffarpur.

Reasons Behind Unfilled Seats in Inter Admission 2025

The high number of vacant seats after three rounds points to several underlying challenges. One key factor could be mismatch between student preferences and institutional offerings. Students may have applied for specific schools or streams with high cut-offs, leading to rejection and delays in admission.

Another reason may be lack of digital access or support for students during the OFSS application process. Many students from rural or underprivileged backgrounds may have missed deadlines or failed to navigate the online platform effectively.

Additionally, the appeal of private institutions outside the OFSS system might have diverted some students. Colleges offering direct admission or other incentives could be attracting candidates who would otherwise apply through BSEB channels.

On-Spot Admission Seen as Last Hope to Fill Remaining Seats

The Bihar Board has now authorized all schools and colleges to carry out on-spot admissions for vacant seats. This step is aimed at streamlining the process and minimizing seat wastage. Students had the option to apply for on-spot admission until Tuesday, 5 August. Starting 6 August, schools will begin enrolling eligible applicants based on merit and availability.

Institutions have been instructed to strictly follow admission guidelines during this process. The board is also expected to monitor compliance to avoid irregularities. For many schools, this is the final opportunity to meet their student intake target for the academic session 2025–26.

Implications of Low Admission Numbers on Schools and Students

The continued seat vacancies could have wider implications for both institutions and students. For schools and colleges, low enrollment could lead to funding challenges and underutilization of teaching resources. Institutions that fail to meet minimum intake may also face administrative scrutiny or reduction in future capacity.

For students, delays in admission can disrupt academic planning. Those who remain unadmitted may have to wait for another round or settle for institutions that were not their first preference. The academic calendar may also face pressure if too many students are enrolled late.

Pressure on BSEB to Streamline Future Admission Rounds

The current situation has put pressure on the Bihar Board to reassess its admission strategy. While OFSS was designed to improve transparency and ease, the results in Muzaffarpur show gaps in effectiveness. The board may need to explore better communication with students, provide assistance for online applications, and consider streamlining the cutoff system.

District education offices may also need to play a more proactive role in monitoring schools, guiding applicants, and resolving admission-related issues at the local level.

Future of Inter Admission in Bihar Depends on Reform and Outreach

As Bihar continues to modernize its education system, the challenges faced during the Inter Admission 2025 session are a wake-up call. A more student-friendly, inclusive, and efficient approach is needed to ensure full seat utilization.

Outreach campaigns, counseling sessions, and digital help desks could help students navigate the process better. Additionally, schools must be equipped to attract students with quality education, proper infrastructure, and a transparent admission process.

With over 8,000 Intermediate seats still vacant after three OFSS merit lists, Muzaffarpur’s educational institutions are facing a critical juncture. Science and Commerce streams have been affected the most, while Arts has performed relatively better in terms of enrollment.

On-spot admission is now the only option left for thousands of students. Starting from 6 August, schools will begin admitting students on the basis of final applications. The next few days will be crucial in determining how effectively Muzaffarpur’s education system responds to the shortfall.

The Bihar Board, schools, and students must work in alignment to ensure that academic goals for 2025–26 are not compromised. Better planning, communication, and support can turn this challenge into an opportunity for systemic improvement.