Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Extension education is an informal, out-of-school system designed to address the changing practical needs and local problems of rural populations.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- Formal classroom education relies on rigid, degree-oriented, and time-bound curricula.
- In contrast, extension education must be flexible and highly adaptable. This is because rural problems, agricultural seasons, weather conditions, and community needs vary significantly and unexpectedly.
- An extension curriculum must adjust to local situations to remain relevant and useful to the target community.
Step 3: Final Answer
Therefore, the key principle of curriculum development in extension education is flexibility.