Understanding the CAPS Curriculum: A Plain-English Guide for Parents
February 13, 2026 - Jamie Lake
What Is CAPS?
CAPS stands for Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement. It is the national curriculum framework used in South African public schools, introduced by the Department of Basic Education in 2012. Today, CAPS governs what is taught, how it is assessed, and at what depth — in every government school in the country.
If your child attends a public school in South Africa, they are almost certainly following the CAPS curriculum. Some independent schools also use CAPS, while others opt for IEB or international programmes. If you are not sure which curriculum your child's school follows, a quick call to the school office will confirm it.
How Is CAPS Structured?
The CAPS curriculum covers the full schooling journey, from Grade R through to Grade 12. It is divided into four phases:
Foundation Phase: Grade R to Grade 3 — focused on literacy, numeracy, and life skills
Intermediate Phase: Grade 4 to Grade 6 — subjects become more defined; learners begin studying Mathematics, Languages, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Technology, and Arts
Senior Phase: Grade 7 to Grade 9 — subject specialisation increases and the academic workload grows
Further Education and Training (FET) Phase: Grade 10 to Grade 12 — learners select a combination of compulsory and elective subjects leading to the National Senior Certificate (NSC)
What Subjects Does CAPS Cover?
In the Foundation Phase, the focus is on Home Language, First Additional Language, Mathematics, and Life Skills. As learners progress into the Intermediate and Senior Phases, the subject list expands to include Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Technology, Creative Arts, Economic and Management Sciences, and Physical Education.
In the FET Phase (Grade 10–12), learners choose a combination of subjects — typically including English, Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy, Life Orientation, and three or more elective subjects such as Physical Sciences, Accounting, History, Geography, or Business Studies.
How Is Assessment Done Under CAPS?
CAPS assessment is designed to be continuous rather than purely exam-based. Throughout the year, learners accumulate a School-Based Assessment (SBA) mark through assignments, tests, projects, and practical tasks. This SBA mark is combined with the final examination mark to produce an overall result.
This means that consistent performance throughout the year matters, not just performance in the final exam — and regular engagement with learning content is directly rewarded.
How EdSoft Will Support CAPS Learners
EdSoft's upcoming module library will be built with CAPS alignment at its core. Every CAPS module will be mapped to the specific learning outcomes prescribed for each grade and subject, meaning that when a learner works through an EdSoft CAPS module, they will be engaging directly with the content and depth of knowledge required by their school programme.
Whether your child is in Grade R or Grade 12, EdSoft will have a CAPS-aligned module designed to support exactly what they are learning in school.
Register your interest to be notified when our CAPS module library goes live.
