Read the following educational policy related statement and the suggested courses of action, and then decide which courses of action logically follow, assuming the statement is completely true. Statement: The Chairman stressed the need for making the education system more flexible and regretted that the curriculum has not been revised in keeping with the pace of the changes taking place in society and technology. Courses of action: a. The curriculum should be reviewed and revised periodically. b. The system of education should be made more flexible.

Introduction / Context:
This course of action question deals with educational reform. The Chairman expresses concern that the education system is not flexible enough and that the curriculum has not kept up with rapid changes. You must decide which of the suggested steps are natural, logical outcomes of his remarks. The problem tests your ability to connect stated concerns directly with suitable remedies.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The education system in question is considered too rigid by the Chairman.
• The curriculum has not been revised in line with ongoing changes in society and technology.
• The Chairman stresses the need for more flexibility in the education system.
• Curriculum revision is implied to be overdue.

Concept / Approach:
In such questions:

• We treat the Chairman’s remarks as highlighting two clear problems: lack of flexibility and outdated curriculum.
• Logical courses of action should directly address these problems.
• Actions that merely repeat the problems without providing a solution are not adequate, but actions that reform the system and curriculum are appropriate.

We evaluate each proposed course of action against these criteria.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Evaluate course of action a. If the curriculum is not revised in keeping with changes, a natural solution is to review and revise it regularly. Periodic review ensures that new developments in knowledge, technology, and society are incorporated. This is directly in line with the Chairman’s regret. Step 2: Evaluate course of action b. The Chairman explicitly stresses the need to make the education system more flexible. Therefore, an action aimed at increasing flexibility is a direct and logical response. Making the system more flexible may include flexible course choices, updated teaching methods, and adaptable evaluation systems. Step 3: Check if both actions are needed. The problems mentioned concern both curriculum content and overall flexibility. Therefore, both revising the curriculum and making the education system more flexible are valid and desirable courses of action. Step 4: Select the option that reflects this evaluation. Since both a and b logically follow, the correct answer is that both a and b follow.

Verification / Alternative check:
Ask whether the Chairman’s remarks would make sense if no changes were made to either curriculum or flexibility. Clearly, his criticism and stress on need for change imply that action should be taken on both fronts. Regular curriculum revision ensures relevance, while increasing flexibility improves responsiveness and individual learning paths. Both together create a modern and dynamic education system, which matches his concerns.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Only a follows: This addresses the outdated curriculum but ignores the explicitly stated need for greater flexibility in the system.
• Only b follows: This improves flexibility but leaves the actual content of education outdated.
• Neither a nor b follows: This contradicts the entire message of the Chairman’s statement, which clearly calls for change.

Common Pitfalls:
Sometimes candidates see the two courses as overlapping and think that one alone is sufficient. However, the question makes it clear that there are two connected but distinct issues: curriculum lag and rigid system design. Another error is to think that the Chairman’s statement is merely descriptive and does not imply any specific action, but in reasoning questions, such strong criticism almost always suggests corresponding reforms.

Final Answer:
Both a and b follow.