Private Bag X895, Pretoria, 0001, Sol Plaatjie House, 222 Struben Street, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
Tel.: (012) 357 3000, Fax: (012) 323 0601, www.education.gov.za
Enquiries: Ms MA Mohale
Tel: 012 357-4167
Email : [email protected]
TO: HEADS OF PROVINCIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS
HEADS OF PROVINCIAL CURRICULUM SECTIONS
HEADS OF PROVINCIAL EXAMINATION SECTIONS
UNIVERSITIES SOUTH AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY
UMALUSI
INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION BOARD (IEB)
NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS’ ASSOCIATIONS
SOUTH AFRICAN COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT INSTITUTE (SACAI)
SCHOOL GOVERNING BODIES (SGB) ASSOCIATIONS
NATIONAL TEACHER ORGANISATIONS
CIRCULAR S11 OF 2020
CURRICULUM RECOVERY IN 2021
1. The purpose of this Circular is to provide guidance with regard to curriculum
recovery in 2021. This Circular is also meant to retract Circulars S2 and S3 of 2020
for revision.
2. Covid-19 has created unprecedented disruption to education systems across the
world. One of the consequences thereof was reduced time for teaching and
learning resulting in substantial learning losses across subjects and grades. In
order to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on learning and teaching, the Department
of Basic Education (DBE) adopted a multi-year curriculum recovery approach.
3. The Annual Teaching Plans (ATPs) as outlined in the Curriculum and Assessment
Policy Statement will not be implemented in the interim due to the trimming and
reorganisation of the curriculum to counter the disruptions of Covid-19 on teaching
and learning.
4. The DBE issued Circular S2 of 2020 on 23 May 2020 which released the revised
and trimmed ATPs for implementation in 2020. This Circular serves to withdraw
Circular S2 and the released documents. Schools will be provided with recovery
ATPs to be implemented over 3-year period, 2021 – 2023, before the end of 2020.
5. Details regarding assessment during the recovery period will be communicated in
due course.
REDUCTION OF SUBJECTS IN THE SENIOR PHASE
6. Circular S3 of 2020 provided for the reduction of subjects in the Senior Phase.
Schools were provided with an alternative of reducing two (2) subjects from the
nine (9) subject offerings in the Senior Phase provided approval of the two dropped
subjects was sanctioned by the District Director. The dispensation of reducing
subjects from nine (9) to seven (7) in the Senior Phase is hereby withdrawn.
7. In 2021, schools will offer nine subjects in the Senior Phase as provided for
in the National Policy pertaining to the Programme and Promotion Requirements
of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R – 12.
8. You are kindly requested to bring the content of this Circular to the attention of all
provincial and district officials, principals and teachers of both public and
independent schools, and relevant stakeholders.
LIFESKILLS IN THE FOUNDATION PHASE AS A STAND-ALONE SUBJECT
9. Teachers were given an allowance to integrate the components of Life skills into
Languages to reduce the number of subjects and counter the impact of loss of
teaching and learning time. This dispensation is hereby withdrawn.
10. In 2021, schools will offer Life skills as a stand-alone subject in the Foundation
Phase as provided for in the National Policy pertaining to the Programme and
Promotion Requirements of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R – 12.
MR HM MWELI
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
DATE: 19/11/2020
