SA History curriculum reform is back in focus after the Department of Basic Education opened public comment on draft History Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements for Grades 4 to 12, reports Cape {town} Etc.
The wider overhaul follows years of work by a ministerial task team. In 2024, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said the team would brief her and that the process would be followed by ‘a clear plan for implementation’. Earlier, the department said the overhaul would make History more Afrocentric and ‘representative’, while aiming to ‘reclaim our history as Africans’.
Public reaction to the proposed curriculum changes has been lively across social platforms, reflecting a wide range of views on how South African history should be taught in schools. Some users defended established historical narratives, with one comment stating, ‘The Castle is still there and people will tell you Oom Jan lived here.’
Others questioned the shift towards African-centred content, with another remark reading, ‘Pre colonial African society? Oh, you mean the society who didn’t invent the wheel yet when Oom Jan arrived?’
Calls for academic balance also featured, with a user noting, ‘History doesn’t care about feelings, what happened must be recorded and studied accurately so we may move forward as a society.’
In contrast, others supported a stronger focus on African historical figures, with one comment saying, ‘Our black youth need to be tough about their heroes… Bantu Steven Biko, Chief Albert Luthuli, Robert Sobukwe […].’
The department added that the documents currently in circulation are ‘draft curriculum documents’ and stressed that ‘no decision is taken on a final curriculum instrument’ until public submissions are considered. It said the draft covers ancient and modern pasts, historical and archaeological sources, African history, heritage, local history, labour history and world history.
- Comment period: Opened 20 March 2026 and closes 19 April 2026 (30 days from publication)
- Submission requirement: Clearly indicate the relevant CAPS document and page number
- Postal submission (Option 1):
Director-General, for attention of Florence Modipa, Chief Education Specialist: Curriculum Policy
Department of Basic Education
222 Struben Street, Pretoria, 0001 - Postal submission (Option 2):
Director-General, for attention of Florence Modipa
Department of Basic Education
Private Bag X895, Pretoria, 0001 - Email submission: [email protected]
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Our school curriculum is an oppressive tool designed to produce clones
Picture: Blacque_jacques is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 / Openverse
