TPS2601 ASSIGNMENT 3 2026
DUE AUGUST 2026
QUESTION 1
1.1. Briefly describe the following concepts
1.1.1. Curriculum
A curriculum refers to the totality of learning experiences, content, knowledge, skills,
and values that learners are expected to acquire through the teaching and learning
process in an educational institution. It involves not only the prescribed subject content
but also the teaching methodologies, assessment practices, and the overall educational
philosophy that guides what is taught and how it is taught. The South African National
Curriculum Statement Grades R-12 gives expression to the knowledge, skills and
values worth learning in South African schools and aims to ensure that children acquire
and apply knowledge and skills in ways that are meaningful to their own lives
(Department of Basic Education, 2011, p. 4).
1.1.2. Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement
The Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) is a single comprehensive
policy document developed for each subject in Grades R-12. It replaces the previous
Subject Statements, Learning Programme Guidelines, and Subject Assessment
Guidelines. According to the Department of Basic Education (2011, p. 3), CAPS
stipulates policy on curriculum and assessment in the schooling sector and provides
clearer specification of what is to be taught and learnt on a term-by-term basis. It
represents a policy statement for learning and teaching in South African schools and
,comprises the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements for all approved subjects,
along with national policies pertaining to programme and promotion requirements.
1.1.3. Curriculum Transformation
Curriculum transformation refers to the process of fundamentally changing and revising
the curriculum to address past inequalities and to align educational content and
practices with democratic values and constitutional principles. The Department of Basic
Education (2011, p. 1) states that South Africa's national curriculum is the culmination of
efforts over a period of seventeen years to transform the curriculum bequeathed by
apartheid. This transformation involves building a curriculum on values that inspired the
Constitution, including healing divisions of the past, establishing a society based on
democratic values, social justice, and fundamental human rights, and improving the
quality of life of all citizens (Department of Basic Education, 2011, p. 1). The curriculum
transformation process in South Africa has progressed from outcomes-based education
(1997), to the Revised National Curriculum Statement (2002), and finally to the current
National Curriculum Statement Grades R-12 (2012).
1.1.4. National Policy pertaining to programme and promotion requirements
The National Policy pertaining to programme and promotion requirements is a policy
document that forms part of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R-12. It
stipulates the norms and standards for the programme and promotion requirements of
learners in South African schools. According to the Department of Basic Education
(2011, p. 4), this policy document, together with the sections on Curriculum and
Assessment Policy, constitutes the norms and standards of the National Curriculum
Statement Grades R-12. It forms the basis for the Minister of Basic Education to
determine minimum outcomes and standards, as well as the processes and procedures
for the assessment of learner achievement applicable to both public and independent
schools.
, 1.1.5. Annual Teaching Plan
An Annual Teaching Plan (ATP) is a detailed plan that outlines the content to be
covered, the sequence of teaching, and the assessment activities for each subject over
the course of an academic year. The CAPS document provides teaching plans that
indicate the minimum content to be covered every two weeks per term. According to the
Department of Basic Education (2011, p. 55), teachers should design their Lesson
Plans using the teaching plans, their textbooks, and any other relevant resources to
teach the content using appropriate sequence and pace. The ATP ensures that all
required content is covered within the allocated instructional time and that assessment
tasks are appropriately spaced throughout the year.
1.2. Say whether the following statements are True or False
DUE AUGUST 2026
QUESTION 1
1.1. Briefly describe the following concepts
1.1.1. Curriculum
A curriculum refers to the totality of learning experiences, content, knowledge, skills,
and values that learners are expected to acquire through the teaching and learning
process in an educational institution. It involves not only the prescribed subject content
but also the teaching methodologies, assessment practices, and the overall educational
philosophy that guides what is taught and how it is taught. The South African National
Curriculum Statement Grades R-12 gives expression to the knowledge, skills and
values worth learning in South African schools and aims to ensure that children acquire
and apply knowledge and skills in ways that are meaningful to their own lives
(Department of Basic Education, 2011, p. 4).
1.1.2. Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement
The Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) is a single comprehensive
policy document developed for each subject in Grades R-12. It replaces the previous
Subject Statements, Learning Programme Guidelines, and Subject Assessment
Guidelines. According to the Department of Basic Education (2011, p. 3), CAPS
stipulates policy on curriculum and assessment in the schooling sector and provides
clearer specification of what is to be taught and learnt on a term-by-term basis. It
represents a policy statement for learning and teaching in South African schools and
,comprises the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements for all approved subjects,
along with national policies pertaining to programme and promotion requirements.
1.1.3. Curriculum Transformation
Curriculum transformation refers to the process of fundamentally changing and revising
the curriculum to address past inequalities and to align educational content and
practices with democratic values and constitutional principles. The Department of Basic
Education (2011, p. 1) states that South Africa's national curriculum is the culmination of
efforts over a period of seventeen years to transform the curriculum bequeathed by
apartheid. This transformation involves building a curriculum on values that inspired the
Constitution, including healing divisions of the past, establishing a society based on
democratic values, social justice, and fundamental human rights, and improving the
quality of life of all citizens (Department of Basic Education, 2011, p. 1). The curriculum
transformation process in South Africa has progressed from outcomes-based education
(1997), to the Revised National Curriculum Statement (2002), and finally to the current
National Curriculum Statement Grades R-12 (2012).
1.1.4. National Policy pertaining to programme and promotion requirements
The National Policy pertaining to programme and promotion requirements is a policy
document that forms part of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R-12. It
stipulates the norms and standards for the programme and promotion requirements of
learners in South African schools. According to the Department of Basic Education
(2011, p. 4), this policy document, together with the sections on Curriculum and
Assessment Policy, constitutes the norms and standards of the National Curriculum
Statement Grades R-12. It forms the basis for the Minister of Basic Education to
determine minimum outcomes and standards, as well as the processes and procedures
for the assessment of learner achievement applicable to both public and independent
schools.
, 1.1.5. Annual Teaching Plan
An Annual Teaching Plan (ATP) is a detailed plan that outlines the content to be
covered, the sequence of teaching, and the assessment activities for each subject over
the course of an academic year. The CAPS document provides teaching plans that
indicate the minimum content to be covered every two weeks per term. According to the
Department of Basic Education (2011, p. 55), teachers should design their Lesson
Plans using the teaching plans, their textbooks, and any other relevant resources to
teach the content using appropriate sequence and pace. The ATP ensures that all
required content is covered within the allocated instructional time and that assessment
tasks are appropriately spaced throughout the year.
1.2. Say whether the following statements are True or False
