What are the basic principles of time table construction?

Time table gives a clear vision and comprehensive picture of school activities i.e., what work is being done during which period, where, by whom and when. It is a complicated task because it is determined by a number of factors and conditions which change from place to place and from school to school.

The following principles have to be kept in mind during preparation of a good time table:

(i) Type of School:

We see firstly whether the school is girls/boys oriented or co-educational, rural or urban, secondary or senior secondary. We determine the nature of activities involved in the school accordingly special needs of a school is to be taken into consideration while framing the time table.

(ii) Department Regulations:

The state department of education fixes length of the school year, and its terms i.e., when an academic year starts and when it ends, the duration of the school day and even the number of periods for each subject.

(iii) Amount of time available:

Time table is framed keeping in view available time i.e., the length of the school year and total number of holidays.

(iv) Principle of Justice:

While assigning work, special care has to be taken that

(a) Each teacher is assigned those subjects who he/she feels his/her best qualified to teach.

(b) He/she does not teach in more than two departments.

(c)Teaching load for every teacher is about equal to that of others.

(v) Relative Importance and Difficulty Value of Subjects:

The time dedicated to a subject should be at per the importance of it and its difficulty value. There are certain socio-economic considerations that determine the importance of a subject in the school curriculum and accordingly, time is allotted to them in the time table.

(vi) Incidence of Fatigue:

The element of fatigue influences the construction of school time-table a number of ways. Children arc fatigued at certain periods or certain days. It is not only physical but also psychological in nature. It results in a definite weakening of attention and diminishing interest and effects of learning.

(a) Work Rate: Some subjects are more fatiguing than others. They involve more mental strain and effort. Such subjects are taught during early hours when the student’s mind is fresh.

(b) Mental freshness is the greatest in the morning. This is also true after recess. The order of subjects causing strain is as follows:

(i) Mathematics

(ii) English

(iii) Hindi

(iv) Science

(v) Social Sciences

(vi) Science Practical’s

(vii) Drawing/Physical Education.

(c) The fatigue principle is true for days of the week also. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are considered to be the best days in which maximum work can be done.

(d) Younger children are more quickly fatigued. The duration of a class period for them does not exceed 30 to 35 minutes.

(e) Seasons too cause fatigue. In summer due to heat we do not like to work.

(vii) Principle of Variety:

It has been seen experimentally that change of room, seat and posture usually is an antidote against weakness. It is applied on both students and teachers. Variety can be introduced in the following manners:

(a) No subject except science practical should be kept for two consecutive periods.

(b) The same class should not set in the same room for the whole day.

(c) The same teacher should not have two consecutive periods in the same class.

(d) If a subject is taught only 2/3 times a week, periods should follow at intervals.

(e)The physical training periods, science practical and drawing work allow a change.

(viii) Free Periods for Teachers:

We should provide free periods for teachers so as to increase their efficiency and also to provide time for their correction work.

(ix) Principle of Play and Recreation:

Careful attention needs to be given to provide for rest and recreation and provision for various co-curricular activities should also be made in the time table, to avoid monotony.

(x) Maximum Utilization of Resources:

The qualification, experience, room size should always be kept in mind so as to make the maximum use of all the resources and avoided wastage or under-utilization of resources.

(xi) Elasticity: The time table should have a flexibility so as to work the teachers smoothly.