The National Curriculum

National Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS)

The CAPS have been introduced to strengthen the National Curriculum Statement in order to improve the quality of teaching and learning in our schools.

It is a revision of the current National Curriculum Statement (NCS). With the introduction of CAPS, every subject in each grade will have a single, comprehensive and concise policy document that will provide details on what teachers need to teach and assess on a grade-by-grade and subject-by-subject basis.

This curriculum review has the aim of

  • lessening the administrative load on teachers,
  • and ensuring that there is clear guidance and consistency for teachers when teaching..

What are the major changes associated with CAPS?
As mentioned, CAPS gives more detailed guidance with regards to what teachers need to teach and how they should assess. With CAPS each teacher in every subject should know what to teach, when to teach it, and how to do assessment. Changes include:

  • The terminology Learning Outcomes and Assessment Standards has gone and will be replaced with “Content” and “Skills”.
  • At the Foundation Phase (Grades R, 1, 2 & 3) Numeracy will now be called Mathematics
  • and Literacy will now be called Language.
  • In the Senior Phase, school-based assessment counts for 40% and the end-of-year examination counts for 60%.
  • At Grade 10, content has been reorganized for several of the subjects and the exam structure has changed in some of the subjects.

The fundamental resources required to assist you in teaching in accordance to the CAPS will be a Learner’s Book for each of your learners and a Teacher’s Guide for you as the teacher. The CAPS document for your Grade and Subject will also outline any other resources you need to teach the specific content.

Does this mean that I need brand new textbooks for CAPS?
Yes it does. Because there have been some content and terminology changes, and because CAPS give week by week planning for teachers to follow, it means you will need NEW textbooks that are organized according to the teaching plan, and that are completely aligned to the CAPS.

For more information on CAPS click here.

 

 

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