State HRD principal secretary Anjani Kumar Singh on Wednesday said the government will give its opinion when officially asked for it. But he was of the view that social science subjects should not be common across the country. "Subjects like science and maths could be common but not subjects like history," Singh said and added there should be scope for incorporating state-specific chapters in the history syllabus.

Expressing similar views, BSEB chairman A K P Yadav expressed dismay over such a proposal. At a meeting of the chairmen of state boards in October, it was agreed that any decision on syllabus should be made with the consent of all sections, he said and added most of the state boards were not in favour of common syllabus. "In social science, literature and language, state- specific chapters should be allowed," he said.

Patna Muslim High School's principal Hasan Nizami said education is a state subject and, as such, such a proposal of common syllabus should not be foisted on the states. He said different states have different cultures and customs and they should be passed on to generation after generation through education.

However, Allen R Johannes, director of a few local schools, has a different viewpoint. "A common syllabus across the country will end discrimination between students pursuing different courses under different boards," he said.