Ambiguity regarding admission criteria for Bachelor of Architecture course has left Class 12 Commerce students worried. The Council of Architecture states that "only Mathematics as subjects of examination at the 10+2 level is valid for the purpose of admission to BArch course". This has raised confusion for both GSHSEB students, who do not have a subject named Mathematics, as well as the Admission Committee for Professional Courses.

The students have Statistics and Accounts as subjects. So, technically, they may not be able to take admission to BArch course. This change has left several students in lurch. Upset by the current confusion, a student, refusing to be named, said, "The decision is going to ruin our career prospects. If CoA had to make Mathematics compulsory, they could have done so a year ago so that students could make choices accordingly. Now, we have already studied Statistics. This lack of clarity will force us to look for other courses that may not be of interest to us."

GP Vadodaria, member secretary of ACPC, confirmed there is ambiguity regarding the rules. "ACPC has been giving admission to Commerce students with Statistics as a subject in Class 12. Recently, we found that CoA has decided to make Mathematics compulsory. We have written to them seeking to know if we can consider giving admission to students who studied Statistics. However, we have not received any clarity from CoA as yet," said Till now, Statistics students were being admitted based on a reply to a query that ACPC had raised before CoA in 2009. "Students who have studied Statistics in their 10+2 or equivalent examination can be considered as having studied Mathematics for admission in the 1st year of full-time B Arch degree course," it had stated.

No change in rule 
Responding to Mirror's e-mail query, Council of Architecture's Registrar R K Oberoi specified: "As per the Council of Architecture's Minimum Standards of Architectural Education, 1983, no candidate, with less than 50% marks in aggregate, shall be admitted to the architecture course unless he/ she has passed an examination at the end of the new 10+2 scheme of Senior School Certificate Examination or equivalent with Mathematics as subjects of examination at the 10+2 level. Therefore, as per COA Regulations of 1983, only subject of Mathematics at 10+2 level is valid for the purpose of admission to BArch course." Meanwhile, CEPT admission committee has decided to consider only students with Mathematics subject for BArch Course.

This is valid for 50% seats on which CEPT will give admission through its own entrance test. Chairman of CEPT University Admission Committee Shubhrangsu Goswami said, "The latest circular of CoA about eligibility to BArch programme, clearly says that the applicant must pass qualifying exam with Mathematics as a subject. CEPT University is following the mandate as it is for the admission in BArch programme in academic year."