The Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, has called on South Africans to actively participate in shaping the country’s proposed new History curriculum for schools, which aims to take a more “African-centred” approach.
This follows growing public debate around the draft curriculum for Grades 4 to 12, which is currently open for comment. The draft was developed by a ministerial task team appointed in 2019 by former Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.
Gwarube emphasised that the document is still a draft and has been released specifically to allow for public scrutiny and input.
She encouraged broad participation, saying a more inclusive consultation process would lead to a more representative and balanced History curriculum. “The more inclusive this process is, the more inclusive our History curriculum will be,” she said.
The Minister stressed that the curriculum should not exclude key historical events or perspectives for political reasons, nor promote a specific ideology. Instead, it should equip learners with critical thinking skills to interpret the past independently.
She also warned against misinformation circulating about the draft, noting that some claims do not reflect the actual content. Stakeholders are urged to engage directly with the document and provide constructive feedback.
The Department of Basic Education said the draft forms part of a long-running curriculum review process. Public consultations were held across all nine provinces in 2023 and 2024, with feedback incorporated into the current version.
The proposed curriculum focuses on developing historical knowledge and skills, including enquiry, evidence-based analysis, and critical engagement. It also includes a wide range of perspectives, such as African history, archaeology, heritage studies, and oral history, alongside traditional written sources.
The public comment period, which opened on 20 March 2026, will close on 19 April 2026. Submissions will help guide any revisions before a final curriculum is adopted.
The draft History curriculum can be perused HERE.
Comments may be submitted by email to Florence Modipa, Chief Education Specialist, Curriculum Policy, at modipa.f@dbe.gov.za.
