New History curriculum for South African schools
Image source: Flickr
Basic Education: New History curriculum to be introduced from 2024
The Basic Education Department says the new History curriculum is being finalised, the draft version of which will be ready by December
New History curriculum for South African schools
Image source: Flickr
The Department of Basic Education says progress is been made in the introduction of a new History curriculum for South African schools. If all goes according to plan, it could be taught in schools as soon as 2024.
The department, led by Minister Angie Motshekga held a media briefing on Friday, 8 October, to outline the state of readiness ahead of the National Senior Certificate Examinations, which are scheduled for later in the month.
SA’s History curriculum to change in schools
The Department of Basic Education’s Cheryl Weston says the Ministerial Task Team on History is finalising the curriculum. Once that has been done,they will then take part in provincial consultative roadshows in every province, during which they will engage relevant stakeholders and partner organisations which would have an interest in the newly-revised History curriculum.
“The work on consultation and actually finalising the curriculum would be done. The draft curriculum will be ready by the end of this year, while the revised final curriculum should be ready by mid-next year. In the last six months of next year, the curriculum will then be sent for quality assurance to Umalusi for approval, before we start with implementation”
The Department of Basic Education’s Cheryl Weston
Motshekga appointed the team to re-look at the History curriculum in 2015 and its work was concluded in 2018. One of its recommendations is that History be made compulsory in grades 10, 11 and 12.
“History should, by design, enable learners to be active citizens – including being able to engage critically with the truths of colonialism, apartheid, and the liberation struggle. Young people should be empowered with values, attitudes and behaviours that contribute to nation-building, social cohesion and national reconciliation. This kind of knowledge will enable the 21st century generation, to comprehend the nexus between global and national citizenship,” Motshekga said when she presented the task team’s report.
