Curriculum Changes In South Africa Since 1994 Timeline Pdf

A curriculum is commonly referred to as a set of guidelines and educational objectives that teachers can follow to teach their students in school. Some people also believe that a curriculum is a document that usually contains teaching methods, assessment procedures, learning objectives and classroom organization which is true as well.

The election of a democratic government in 1994, came with curriculum changes in South Africa due to the Apartheid based curriculum that segregated education in the country that was in use before the democracy. However, there has since been curriculum changes in South Africa since 1994 with the major aim to ensure uniformity of curriculum and equal opportunity of access to education for everyone.

Curriculum Changes in South Africa since 1994 Timeline

Curriculum change in South Africa was necessary to handle the discrimination, racism, and inequalities that were present in the educational system at the time. The assumption of power by the democratic government in South Africa in 1994 came with a much-expected political transformation that also included an educational transformation in the form of a curriculum change. Since 1994, the Ministry of Education has introduced three curriculum change initiatives.

1997

1994 signified the dawn of a new era in the educational system in South Africa and it involved curricular changes. However, the first curricular reform in South Africa after Democracy was birthed in March 1997 and it was called Outcome Based Education (OBE) to substitute and solve the pre-existing Apartheid curriculum.

Outcome Based Education was adopted from developed countries like the United States of America and Australia and it disapproved of traditional educational methods based on direct teaching of facts and standard techniques and encouraged constructive based assessment and curriculum. However, as with every new initiative Outcome Based Education was disapproved as soon as it was introduced and implemented in South Africa.

The critics stated that the curriculum has some faults such as language complexity, insufficient coordination, development and training of teachers, lopsided curricular structure & design, and absence of alignment between the curriculum and assessment policy amongst others. Additionally, the critics highlighted that adequate attention must be given to the major application weaknesses of the OBE that are associated with consistent monitoring, poor resources, and practicable timeframes for implementation.

2000

A careful review of Outcome Based Education (OBE) in 2000 led to the construction of the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS) which was a restructured form of Outcome Based Education (OBE). The Department of Education states that the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS) will reinforce the application the Outcome Based Education (OBE) inclusivity and human rights.

This time the South African Democratic Teacher’s Union (SADTU) endorsed the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS) for its simplicity and ease of use. The Union also voiced their support for the basic principles of the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS). The RNCS was based on principles such as Simplicity & ease of use, high-level knowledge and skills, outcomes-based education, social justice, inclusivity, development and incorporation. The curriculum also considered that all learners should have access to significant science education.

2012

Following persistent implementation challenges of the Outcome Based Education (OBE) in South Africa the Minister of Education, Angie Motshekga set up a committee to review the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS) in 2009. The review was aimed at recognizing the difficulties and stress points that had negative impacts on the quality of education and suggesting approaches that could be used to address the problems identified.

In 2012, the Curriculum and Assessment and Policy Statement (CAPS) was set to be applied in grades I-3 and grade 10 in 2012 and grades 4-9 and 11 in 2013 and grade 12 in 2014. However, the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS) was not to be completely eradicated but to use the RNCS as a tool to decrease the ineffective parts of the curriculum and add changes that will solve the challenges that the educational system has faced in curriculum application.

Following the review of the Revised National Curriculum Statement the inaugurated review committee it was suggested that a more simplified curriculum is drafted, the policy document is made clear and available, essential subjects knowledge are restored, and assessments are standardized

The new Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) based the study of science on the expansion of scientific investigation, improvement of scientific knowledge & understanding, and the development of understanding the role of science in society. The Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) is still the curriculum in use in South Africa to date.

Aims of the South African Curriculum

The following are the aims of the South African Curriculum:

• To make access available to students to advanced education.
• To allow students to exhibit a profile of their capabilities to their employees.
• To furnish students with skills, values and knowledge that will enable them to contribute to society as free citizens.
• To assist students to evolve from the classroom to the workplace.

Subjects taught as Part of The South African Curriculum

Foundation Level Curriculum Subjects

Home Language 

1. Zulu Home language for Foundation level.
2. Afrikaans Home Language for Foundation level.
3. Xhosa Home language for Foundation level.
4. English home language for the Foundation language.

Mathematics 

1. Zulu Mathematics for Foundation level.
2. Afrikaans Mathematics for Foundation level.
3. Xhosa Mathematics for Foundation level.
4. English Mathematics for Foundation level.

First Additional Language

1. English First Additional Language for the Foundation level.
2. Xhosa First additional language for the Foundation level.
3. Zulu First Additional Language for the Foundational level.
4. Afrikaans First Additional Language for the Foundation level.

Life Skills 

1. Zulu Life Skills.
2. English Life Skills for Foundation level.
3. Xhosa Life Skills.
4. Afrikaans Life Skills.

Intermediate Level Curriculum Subjects

1. Life Skills for Intermediate level.
2. English for Intermediate Level.
3. Mathematics for Intermediate level.
4. Social science for Intermediate level.
5. Natural sciences and technology for Intermediate level.

Senior Level Curriculum Subjects

1. First additional language.
2. Home language.
3. Social sciences.
4. Mathematics.
5. Creative arts.
6. Natural sciences.
7. Technology.
8. Life Orientation.
9. Economic Management Sciences.

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Conclusion 

Since the inception of the democratic government in 1994, there have been curriculum changes in South Africa. In 1996, the Outcome Based Education (OBE) curriculum was adopted and introduced into the South African educational system to eradicate the Apartheid Curriculum. Following a careful review and massive criticism from academic critics, the Outcome Based Education (OBE) Curriculum was scrapped and replaced by the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS) in the year 2000.

In 2009, the Minister of Education set up a committee to carefully review the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS) and in 2012, the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) was again introduced. However, the Revised National Curriculum Statement was not eradicated but reformed instead. The Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement is the current Curriculum in use in South Africa to date. No doubt the South African Curriculum has undergone significant changes over the years.