Western Cape Education Department

School curriculum, Grades R to 12

The Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) contain the national curriculum for
Grades 1 to 12 in public schools in South Africa.

Education authorities are introducing the CAPS over three years, as follows:

• 2012: Grades 1 to 3, and Grade 10
• 2013: Grades 4 to 6, and Grade 11
• 2014: Grades 7 to 9, and Grade 12

Features of the CAPS include the following:

• Greater specification of content
• Detailed teaching schedules
• New content in some cases

Major changes have included:

• Greater focus on a second language in Grade 1
• Reducing the number of subjects in Grades 4 to 6 from eight to six
• Greater emphasis on geometry in Mathematics in Grades 10 to 12

Click on the following to view the curriculum for each education phase:

Foundation Phase (Grades R to 3)
Intermediate Phase (Grades 4 to 6)
Senior Phase (Grades 7 to 9)
Further Education and Training (FET) Phase (Grades 10 to 12)