Maths being made mandatory, leaves B.Com aspirants stumped

The Delhi University admission process, both online and offline, is in full swing amid a shocking diktat from the University Grant Commission (UGC). Delhi University’s decision to make mathematics mandatory for admission to its B.Com course has been slammed as “untimely” and “unfair” by a section of parents and students who want at least a two-year window before any such implementation.

In separate letters to CBSE chairman, DU vice-chancellor and HRD minister, these students, parents and teachers have sought their intervention into the issue.

Making amendments in its admission policy, DU had last month announced that it will be compulsory for admission seekers to B.Com (Hons) courses and Economics (Hons) to have studied maths in class XII.

For B.Com pass course if the student has not studied maths in class XII or doesn’t include the subject’s marks in the <g data-gr-id="36">best-four</g> percentage, he or she will attract a penalty of 2.5 <g data-gr-id="37">per cent</g>, DU had said.

“When I was in class XI, the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) was introduced, where Mathematics was not a compulsory subject required for B.Com (H). But with the scrapping of the course suddenly, no such intimation was given that the eligibility criteria for B.Com would also be changed,” said an aspirant.

Many aspirants had eyed  particular courses in Delhi University and studied accordingly for their board examinations. “I was aiming for B.Com (H) in Delhi University, and based on the eligibility criteria two years back, I decided not to take Mathematics in my Standard XII. Now I am told that I cannot apply to these courses despite my 95 percentage because suddenly Mathematics is a compulsory subject from this year. My career goals have gone for a toss with the University changing its rules so arbitrarily” said a disheartened Smriti (name changed).

The aspirants and parents have called this introduction as untimely. “Even If they wanted to apply such an eligibility criteria, and such a change was under contemplation, the university should have announced it before applying it arbitrarily. There should have been a window of two years to enable students to decide their subjects in Standard XI,” said an agitated parent.

According to university officials, the decision has been taken after enough deliberation and discussion by a 23-member admission committee. “The matter was discussed at length. The decision was taken after a consensus by the 23-member admission committee comprising of senior officials,” DU’s Dean of Students’ Welfare, JM Khurana said. 

He also said the clause was there earlier <g data-gr-id="40">too</g> but colleges used to have different eligibility criteria. 

“From this year, we decided to do away with any riders imposed by colleges and adopt <g data-gr-id="39">an uniform</g> eligibility criteria. Hence, the subject has been made compulsory,” he added.