Creating a Future for History within South Africa's Curriculum 2005

Abstract

The new democratic dispensation in South Africa since 1994 has necessitated the development of a new approach to history as a school subject in the framework of the recently inaugurated Curriculum 2005. The new education authorities regard history as one of the keys to a new social and political dispensation, especially in view of its abuse during the apartheid era. This article briefly covers history curriculum development during the pre-1994 apartheid era, and also the various efforts since 1994 to ensure the development and future of a history curriculum suitable for the new democracy in South Africa. Two problem areas are discussed, viz. the role of the Government in these efforts and the constraints of integrating history into the Curriculum 2005 learning program.