Abstract: One of the most important objectives of school curricula is to prepare students for living in a dynamic
society. School curricula should ensure that students learn essential life skills. Research conducted in both
developed and developing countries indicates that the educational authorities in these countries have given
the priority to the inclusion of “life skills” in school curricula. This paper identifies the required life skills for
students at primary school level and evaluates the current state of Iranian school curricula in meeting these
needs. Main questions of study are: 1. what kinds of life skills are required for students at primary school level?
2. How much attention is paid to the life skill at various phases of curriculum development (curriculum design,
curriculum implementation and curriculum evaluation)? Data is drawn from a survey conducted with a stratified
random sample of social education specialists, curriculum developers at ministry level and Tehran’s primary
school teachers. In this research a questionnaire is administrated consisting of two sections; the first section
is related to the essential life skills and the second section includes the adaptation of curricula with such
qualities.