WHAT IS CAPS?
The Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) is a comprehensive policy document introduced by the South African Department of Basic Education. It serves as the foundation of the national education system, covering grades R to 12. CAPS provides detailed guidelines on what students should learn, how teachers should deliver the curriculum, and how students’ progress should be assessed.
WHAT IS CAPS?
The Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) is a comprehensive policy document introduced by the South African Department of Basic Education. It serves as the foundation of the national education system, covering grades R to 12. CAPS provides detailed guidelines on what students should learn, how teachers should deliver the curriculum, and how students’ progress should be assessed.
CORE COMPONENTS OF CAPS
CAPS ensures a standardized curriculum across all schools, promoting uniformity in educational standards. It outlines specific content, teaching methods, and assessment criteria for each subject and grade level, ensuring consistency and clarity in the educational process.
The curriculum is designed to cover essential knowledge and skills in various subjects, including Mathematics, Science, Languages: English Home Language & Afrikaans First Additional Language, and Life Skills. It aims to provide students with a broad and balanced education that prepares them for further education and the workplace.
CAPS emphasizes effective teaching methods that engage students actively in the learning process. Teachers are guided on how to deliver lessons that are both informative and engaging, using a variety of instructional techniques to cater to diverse learning needs.
The curriculum includes detailed assessment policies, ensuring that students’ progress is measured accurately and fairly. Different types of assessments, including formative and assumptive evaluations, are used to monitor student learning and provide feedback.
CAPS promotes inclusive and social justice, aiming to provide equal educational opportunities for all learners. It emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, and the development of values such as self-fulfillment, social justice, and human rights, aligning with the principles enshrined in the South African Constitution.
The curriculum is regularly reviewed and updated to remain relevant and responsive to the evolving educational landscape and the needs of learners and society.
CORE COMPONENTS OF CAPS
CAPS ensures a standardized curriculum across all schools, promoting uniformity in educational standards. It outlines specific content, teaching methods, and assessment criteria for each subject and grade level, ensuring consistency and clarity in the educational process.
The curriculum is designed to cover essential knowledge and skills in various subjects, including Mathematics, Science, Languages: English Home Language & Afrikaans First Additional Language, and Life Skills. It aims to provide students with a broad and balanced education that prepares them for further education and the workplace.
CAPS emphasizes effective teaching methods that engage students actively in the learning process. Teachers are guided on how to deliver lessons that are both informative and engaging, using a variety of instructional techniques to cater to diverse learning needs.
The curriculum includes detailed assessment policies, ensuring that students’ progress is measured accurately and fairly. Different types of assessments, including formative and assumptive evaluations, are used to monitor student learning and provide feedback.
CAPS promotes inclusive and social justice, aiming to provide equal educational opportunities for all learners. It emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving, and the development of values such as self-fulfillment, social justice, and human rights, aligning with the principles enshrined in the South African Constitution.
The curriculum is regularly reviewed and updated to remain relevant and responsive to the evolving educational landscape and the needs of learners and society.
FOUNDATION PHASE GR.R-3
The Foundation Phase focuses on the early development of literacy, numeracy, and life skills, essential for building a strong educational foundation and fostering a love for learning.
FOUNDATION PHASE GR.R-3
The Foundation Phase focuses on the early development of literacy, numeracy, and life skills, essential for building a strong educational foundation and fostering a love for learning.
GRADE R
Develops basic listening, speaking, and pre-reading skills through interactive activities such as songs, stories, and rhymes.
Introduces basic concepts of numbers, shapes, and patterns through playful activities.
Focuses on personal and social well-being, health education, creative arts, and physical education through play.
GRADE 1-3
Focuses on reading comprehension, vocabulary development, writing short sentences and paragraphs, and basic grammar.
Introduces listening and speaking skills, vocabulary building, simple reading and writing exercises, and basic grammar concepts.
Covers basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), measurement, geometry, and data handling.
Includes personal development, social skills, health and safety, arts and crafts, music, and physical education
GRADE R
Develops basic listening, speaking, and pre-reading skills through interactive activities such as songs, stories, and rhymes.
Introduces basic concepts of numbers, shapes, and patterns through playful activities.
Focuses on personal and social well-being, health education, creative arts, and physical education through play.
GRADE 1-3
Focuses on reading comprehension, vocabulary development, writing short sentences and paragraphs, and basic grammar.
Introduces listening and speaking skills, vocabulary building, simple reading and writing exercises, and basic grammar concepts.
Covers basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), measurement, geometry, and data handling.
Includes personal development, social skills, health and safety, arts and crafts, music, and physical education
INTERMEDIATE PHASE GR.4-6
The Intermediate Phase builds on the foundational skills acquired earlier, introducing more complex concepts and a broader range of subjects. This phase prepares learners for further education and higher learning.
INTERMEDIATE PHASE GR.4-6
The Intermediate Phase builds on the foundational skills acquired earlier, introducing more complex concepts and a broader range of subjects. This phase prepares learners for further education and higher learning.
GRADE 4-6
Focuses on reading comprehension, vocabulary development, writing short sentences and paragraphs, and basic grammar.
Introduces listening and speaking skills, vocabulary building, simple reading and writing exercises, and basic grammar concepts.
Covers basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), measurement, geometry, and data handling.
Includes personal development, social skills, health and safety, arts and crafts, music, and physical education
Introduces basic scientific concepts, physical and life sciences, technology applications, simple experiments, and scientific inquiry methods.
Covers history and geography, exploring local and global historical events, physical and human geography, map skills, and social studies.
GRADE 4-6
Focuses on reading comprehension, vocabulary development, writing short sentences and paragraphs, and basic grammar.
Introduces listening and speaking skills, vocabulary building, simple reading and writing exercises, and basic grammar concepts.
Covers basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), measurement, geometry, and data handling.
Includes personal development, social skills, health and safety, arts and crafts, music, and physical education
Introduces basic scientific concepts, physical and life sciences, technology applications, simple experiments, and scientific inquiry methods.
Covers history and geography, exploring local and global historical events, physical and human geography, map skills, and social studies.
SENIOR PHASE GR.7
Although Grade 7 is part of the primary school system, it falls under the Senior Phase in the CAPS curriculum. This phase introduces more advanced concepts and prepares learners for the transition to high school.
SENIOR PHASE GR.7
Although Grade 7 is part of the primary school system, it falls under the Senior Phase in the CAPS curriculum. This phase introduces more advanced concepts and prepares learners for the transition to high school.
GRADE 7
Advanced reading and comprehension, critical analysis of literature, extensive vocabulary building, and sophisticated writing tasks.
Further development of listening and speaking skills, complex reading and writing assignments, advanced grammar, and language usage.
Advanced number operations, introduction to algebra, in-depth study of geometry, measurement, data handling, and introductory concepts in probability.
Advanced personal development, in-depth exploration of social responsibilities, health education, physical education, and Technology
Detailed study of scientific concepts, complex experiments, technological design, and application of scientific principles.
Comprehensive coverage of history and geography, in-depth study of societal structures, environmental issues, and the use of geographic tools and techniques.
GRADE 7
Advanced reading and comprehension, critical analysis of literature, extensive vocabulary building, and sophisticated writing tasks.
Further development of listening and speaking skills, complex reading and writing assignments, advanced grammar, and language usage.
Advanced number operations, introduction to algebra, in-depth study of geometry, measurement, data handling, and introductory concepts in probability.
Advanced personal development, in-depth exploration of social responsibilities, health education, physical education, and Technology
Detailed study of scientific concepts, complex experiments, technological design, and application of scientific principles.
Comprehensive coverage of history and geography, in-depth study of societal structures, environmental issues, and the use of geographic tools and techniques.