The Secondary Education Commission has recommended the following basic principles of curriculum construction:

1. Principle of Totality of Experience.

According to the Secondary Education Commission, “The curriculum does not include only the academic subjects traditionally taught in the school but it includes the totality of experiences that a pupil receives through manifold activities that go in the school, in the class-room, library, laboratory, workshop, play-ground, and in numerous informal contacts between teachers and pupils.” All types of experiences in the school or planned by the school should be included in the school curriculum.

2. Principle of Variety and Elasticity.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

The curriculum should be broad-based and include activities and subjects according to the different types of pupils. It should be adaptable to their individual needs and interests.

3. Principle of Relating to Community Life.

The curriculum must be related to life around the child. There should be community oriented programmes in the school so that the child feels himself as an integral part of the local community. The curriculum should bring school and community closer. Due importance should be given to the productive work which is a vital part of organised human life.

4. Principle of Training or Leisure.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

The curriculum should be framed to train pupils, not only for work but also for leisure. There should be a number of activities-social, aesthetic, sports etc. which should cultivate varied interests and hobbies in the students. These will train them to use their leisure time properly.

5. Principle of Integration and Correlation.

The activities and subjects of the curriculum should be well correlated and integrated. These should not be put into water- tight compartments. The curriculum should present ‘broad-field’ units which have direct bearing on life.