Department Of Basic Education National Curriculum Statement

Department Of Basic Education National Curriculum Statement

Department Of Basic Education National Curriculum Statement, From 2012 the two National Curriculum Statements for Grades R-9 and Grades 10-12 respectively, are combined in a single document and will simply be known as the National Curriculum Statement Grades R-12. The National Curriculum Statement for Grades R-12 builds on the previous curriculum but also updates it and aims to provide clearer specification of what is to be taught and learnt on a term-by-term basis.
The National Curriculum Statement Grades R-12 represents a policy statement for learning and teaching in South African schools and comprises the following:

  • Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) for all approved subjects listed in this document;
  • National policy pertaining to the programme and promotion requirements of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R – 12; and
  • National Protocol for Assessment Grades R – 12.

The implementation of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R-12 is as follows:

  • January 2012 in Grades R – 3 and Grade 10;
  • January 2013 in Grades 4 –6 and Grade 11; and
  • January 2014 in Grades 7 –9 and Grade 12.

In response to concerns expressed by teachers who faced various challenges in the implementation of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R – 12, the Minister deemed it necessary to appoint a Ministerial Task Team for the review of the Implementation of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R – 12 with the aim of investigating the concerns expressed.
The brief of the Task Team was to identify the challenges and pressure points that negatively impacted on the quality of teaching in schools and to propose the mechanisms that could address the challenges.
On 20 October 2009, the Minister announced a decision to implement the recommendations of the Task Team’s Report. The Report promotes structured and improved coordination and seeks to achieve coherence across the system for the support of the curriculum in schools.
The Report of the Task Team also recommended that the Department of Basic Education should develop a clear and simple five year plan to support of the implementation of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R – 12 in schools.

The development of a single, comprehensive, and concise curriculum and assessment policy statements would replace the current Subject Statements, Teacher Guides and Subject Assessment Guidelines in both the GET and FET Phases.
What Is The  National Curriculum Statement Grades R-12?
The National Curriculum Statement Grades R – 12, to be implemented during the period 2012- 2014, represents a policy statement for learning and teaching in South African schools. It is the curriculum that underpins the various programmes followed in each Grade from Grades R – 12. It enables a learner to obtain a National Senior Certificate after completion of the full programme of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R – 12
How Is The National Curriculum Statement Grades R-12 Constructed?
The National Curriculum Statement Grades R – 12 consists of three documents, namely:

  • Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements for each approved school subject as listed in the policy document National policy pertaining to the programme and promotion requirements of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R – 12
  • The policy document, National policy pertaining to the programme and promotion requirements of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R – 12 which describes the number of subjects to be offered by learners in each grade and the promotion requirements to be obtained; and
  • The policy document, National Protocol for Assessment Grades R – 12 (January 2012) which standardises the recording and reporting processes for Grades R – 12 within the framework

Why Was It Necessary To Repackage The Curriculum in 2010?
Teachers expressed their concerns about the various challenges in the implementation of the Revised National Curriculum Statement Grades R – 9 and the National Curriculum Statement Grades 10 – 12.  The Minister of Basic Education then appointed a Task Team to identify the challenges and pressure points that negatively impacted on the quality of teaching in schools and to propose the mechanisms that could address the challenges.

The Ministerial Task Team recommended that the Department of Basic Education develop a clear and simple five year plan to support the implementation of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R – 12 in schools and refine curriculum documents.
What Are The Principals Of The National Curriculum Statement Grades R-12
The National Curriculum Statement Grades R – 12 is based on the following principles:

  • Social transformation;
  • Active and critical thinking;
  • High knowledge and high skills;
  • Progression;
  • Human rights, valuing indigenous knowledge system;
  • Credibility;
  • Quality and efficiency; and
  • Providing an education that is comparable in quality, breadth and depth to those of other countries

What Are The Aims Of The National Curriculum Statement Grades R-12?
To equip learners with the skills to:

  • identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking;
  • work effectively as individuals and with others as members of a team;
  • organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively;
  • collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information;
  • communicate effectively using visual, symbolic and/or language skills in various modes;
  • use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and the health of others; and
  • demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem solving contexts do not exist in isolation.
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